#but nudge-nudge-wink-winking that it's actually just been since 2018

[larrylimericks]

15May22

HS Edition Cos he’s shady as a silhouette, Harry made sure we didn’t forget: A shadowy figure— A profile “familiar”— In Chile was watching his set.

[joontier]

Ramen Rivals

synopsis: Rivals in the kitchen, rivals even with ramen -  two rivaling restaurateurs fight over the only cup of instant noodles left in the convenience store

pairings: kim seokjin x reader (oneshot)

rating:  R | genre: classic e2l trope; gourmet chef! seokjin and reader ; smut; humor; fluff ; crack | warnings: swearing, explicit sex, kitchen sex, implied bathroom sex, multiple orgasms

word count: 12k RIP MY BRAIN

a/n: Ahhhh, his is actually a re-written version of one i posted way way back 2018 LOOOL idk what to feel anymore after this akfaowiejfoawe the last parts are actually heavily unedited ACK 

navi. 

Kim Seokjin. 

That’s it. That’s the name. That’s the tweet. 

You never knew three syllables could affect you this much, could bring you this great distress. The mere mention of it makes you reel, roll your eyes, ball up your fists, makes the tiny hairs on your nape stand on end. 

Long story short, Kim Seokjin makes your blood boil. 

It doesn’t help either that he was Adonis himself – complete with cat eyes, plump lips, and a dashing smile, or that he has rock-hard abs hiding underneath that white double-breasted jacket, or that he busts out corny ass dad jokes as much as he winks at people (which is a LOT of times, by the way), or that he’s an undeniably an exceptional chef (such as yourself, duh) and has now erected a gourmet restaurant next door to rival yours, OR the completely obvious fact that you two have history. 

The short period of time in the past that you shared with him wasn’t exactly one you would be embarrassed of, or something you want to forget. Instead, it’s the exact opposite. You’re ashamed of the fact that you hadn’t gotten over it until now, three years later. He was your OGF – Mr. One Great Fuck. Kim Seokjin still holds the belt for the title of making you cum six consecutive times in a single night. How he managed to do that and how nobody else has measured up to that, you’ll never know. 

You’d initially met him at Les Coulisses Du Chef in Paris, where you had enrolled yourself in a patisserie class to expand your knowledge on French pastry and hopefully get a certificate for it. You’d been meaning to take the class since forever, yet you’d been waitlisted year after year until last year when one of the applicants had backed out, they’d called you in, merely half a month before the program started. 

Three weeks into the semester, Seokjin had introduced himself to you, or rather, had told you a dad joke as an introductory preview of his personality. You’re glad he did though, else you would have been surprised if you discovered the kid was part Greek god, part chef, part dad jokes, and .01% brain cell. 

“What do you call a fake noodle?” asks .01% brain-cell-man seated beside you, rolling up his sleeves to reveal the prominent veins on his forearms. You’re momentarily distracted by the action, completely missing out the question he’d just asked you. “Sorry, what?” 

“What do you call a fake noodle?” Gosh, you shouldn’t have asked him again. If only he knew the number of times you’d hear- “Impasta!” He snorts, holding a fettuccine noodle in one hand and the other clutching onto his tummy as he doubles in his laughter. 

You’re just standing beside him, slack-jawed, unsure if this was just a sick dare. Who was this guy? Was he even in the same class as you? Was he high? Perhaps he mistook flour for coke? His laughter dies down when he sees your face, sans-reaction. 

“Wait, you understand English right? Um… comprendre English? Oui?” 

“Yes, I can understand English.” 

“Then why didn’t you laugh?” You raise a brow. This stranger just comes up to you, tells you a lame joke, and now he expects you to laugh? 

“This is gonna sound real mean, but it was really an old joke...and a lame one at that,” you retort, your face crumpled into one of faux pity. 

“Hey! No need to make it personal!” he counters, placing a hand over his heart, face contorting into a grimace. “You, Rafa!” He half-shouts, pointing an accusatory finger to someone behind you. “You said it would be a great ice-breaker!” Your eyes follow the Rafa he’s pointing at, the latter quickly shakes his head, telling you he doesn’t know the man in French. 

“Is this man bothering you?” Rafa nods sadly. 

“What?! How dare you turn the tables on me?? I’m your only friend!” You turn to glare at pasta guy, who continues to wail behind you. Rafa snorts from across at the sight of pasta guy making a fool of himself behind you and eventually takes pity on him. 

“I’m sorry, Jin’s just been meaning to talk to your since the start of semester, so he’s asked me for advice on how to approach you...I told him to tell you a good ‘ole joke in the kitchen since we’re all chefs here...I didn’t actually think he’d take it...seriously.”

“Wow! Betraying and exposing me all at once!! Why won’t you just fry me alive in olive oil, huh? That would be less painful.” Jin-pasta complains, arms gesticulating wildly in the air. You watch them unabashedly bicker in front of you concurrently amused at the whole spectacle. 

The three of you become close friends soon thereafter, Jin claiming your trio as the ‘Kitchen Musketeers’. Yes, he managed to convince the entire class to call your tiny group of friends that name. And yes, that wasn’t the worst idea Seokjin had in mind when he was considering a name for your trio. You didn't even want to start to reminisce about the rest of Seokjin’s bizarre suggestions: Charlie’s Cooks (to his defense, you did have a substitute mentor named Charlie), Gourmetbusters, Pecanpuff Girls, The Three Sausagees (more like two sausages and one bun). You’ve always cringed at the last one.

Despite your trio’s antics, Rafa considers himself the third wheel more than anything. Rafael was not oblivious to the crush on Seokjin that you’ve been harboring for months. 

It was the day of your graduation from the short course you’d taken - the three of you decided to have a celebratory wine party at Seokjin’s rented apartment. That same night was when you found yourself drunk on pinot noir and Seokjin’s lips. The rest was history. 

Finding the bed and the rest of his apartment empty the next morning, you took your leave and fared your walk of shame along the streets of Paris with teary eyes and a bruised heart. 

Your Mr. OGF also turned out to be Mr. One God-Tier Fucker. Or perhaps the title also belonged to you, Ms. One Gigantic Fool, who thought that maybe she could have been more than a one-night-stand between two colleagues whose relationship could never be more than a professional one. 

Colleagues. The apparent ‘label’ lets out a boisterous laugh at your face. Gosh, you’re a pathetic fucking fool. 

Thankfully, your flight back to Korea was scheduled that day as well,, so you wouldn’t have to see Seokjin’s pretty face any longer or rather - what you wouldn’t admit even to yourself - you wouldn’t be able to confront the face of the truth you wanted to hide deep beneath the recesses of your heart. 

At least, that’s what you thought. 

One and a half years after you got your certificate in Paris, you had finally saved enough money to start your business - a gourmet restaurant situated in the heart of Gangnam. You already had patrons from the restaurant where you previously worked, and the opening of Canapé had garnered more customers than you initially expected. 

Business had been thriving for a year, that is, until someone decided to erect a new gourmet restaurant just beside yours. Having a rivalling establishment wasn’t new news to you, neither did it truly bother you as to no longer having the monopoly in gourmet restaurants located in this part of Gangnam. 

A week after the opening of your neighbor’s Ambrosia - you decided to bring over a friendly bottle of wine you had shipped straight from France with the hopes that you can become acquainted with your fellow restaurateur. 

As you move along the crosswalk and reach Ambrosia’s podium outside intended for the maitre d’, you shift your weight between your legs, an unconscious habit that only Seokjin took notice of. Ridding your thoughts of the man who shall no longer be named, you let your mind wander off to your own worker’s description of the alleged owner. 

Out of all your staff’s depiction of Ambrosia’s owner, it’s your sommelier’s and manager’s descriptions that have struck you the most. 

Yoongi, your timid sommelier, tells you that the owner was a stout man in his mid-forties with Caucasian features, while your manager, Jinhee said he was a man around your age with a face and built that could easily pass for a K-Pop idol. 

You were leaning towards Yoongi’s description because Jinhee would have most likely mistaken a real idol for the owner since there were plenty of celebrities who hung out in Gangnam and would meet up in restaurants like yours. Either way, celebrity look-a-like or not, you were determined to meet your neighbor. 

“There’s someone outside, Hobi,” a busser informs the maitre d as he wipes the last table for the day. Three pairs of eyes look at you through the glass. 

You continuously peer from the outside as you can’t see much from due to the darkness inside, where only a few dim lights are on. “Go on then, Hobi,” the owner states, nudging the maitre d towards the door. 

Hoseok takes a glimpse of you through the glass panel and faces the owner. “Hyung, she seems pretty. Why don’t you do it? You ought to have a proper girlfriend right now. It’s about time you move on from your love interest in Paris! Plus you’re the owner of the restaurant!”

“Hobi, I still have to do kitchen check, remember? And for the record, I have moved on from her. Chop chop.” Hobi gives him an incredulous look, highly doubting his boss had already forgotten about her. “Right away, Mr. Seokdon Ramsay.”

You’re drawn from your thoughts when you hear the melodic sound of the bell as the door opens and a man with a bright smile comes out. “Hello! My name’s Hobi, can I help you with anything?”

“Um..hi! I’m from Canapé just across the street… are you, perhaps, the owner of Ambrosia?” 

“Oh! I’m not the owner…I wish I was though if I had someone pretty like you looking for me…” You laugh awkwardly in response, unsure of what you should reply to such a line. The two of you remain standing there, staring at each other. “Um...is the owner there then? It would be nice if I can speak to him or her or them…” you let out a small cough, looking away.

“Right! Of course, sorry about that! I’ll tell him to come out.” Hobi scurries back inside and soon you hear incoherent yelling and laughter from inside the restaurant.

“Hyungnim! Hyung!!” Hobi calls out once more, eyes searching wildly for Seokjin. “What now?” Seokjin emerges from the kitchen with the busser in tow. “Hyung! She’s fucking hot! And I feel like I’ve known her from somewhere…plus she says she’s from our neighboring restaurant! I told you, you were the one who should’ve gone out there. By the way, I think she’s calling wine o’clock too – and the bottle she’s holding looks like expensive French Cabernet Sauvignon!”

Seokjin narrows his eyes at his maitre d, “You seem to have been spending a lot of time with that sommelier from across the street.” The owner of Ambrosia shakes his head at his friend, who pushes him towards the door. “Hurry! You wouldn’t want to keep a pretty girl waiting!”

You’ve been waiting patiently outside, shifting your weight from one foot to the other as you watch people come and go. The streets of Gangnam was always lively, and it still surprises you at this point that you had decided to put up a restaurant in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a city like such because you’ve always wanted to erect one by the countryside with the whole organic theme going on. Nonetheless, you were happy with your decision of establishing one in Gangnam.

The bell dings again, and as you turn on your heel to check the much-anticipated owner of Canapé, you nearly drop the pricey bottle of red wine in your hands. It’s Mr. man-who-shall-no-longer-be-named. You’re stood there shell-shocked, mouth agape at the man in front of you.

He hasn’t changed one bit, well, except for the more handsome features. He’s changed his hairstyle too, now opting for an exposed forehead instead of those bangs he’d impulsively cut by his own in the middle of the night. His shoulders remain the same, miraculously; just an inch wider and he could’ve been a great replacement for a meter stick at Encore, the clothing store that offered bespoke clothing just down the road.

“_________?”

Seokjin starts to speak, yet you can’t seem to bring yourself to do the same. There’s too much you wanted to say, ask , and rant about that your mouth remains hanging open awkwardly – almost as if you’re squawking. You bow in embarrassment, apologizing for your behavior and run back to your restaurant.

The Gourmet Chefs Association of East Asia was holding its annual even today at The Andaz Seoul and you just had this gut feeling Seokjin was going to be there. With yesterday’s discovery that your neighboring, rivaling, restaurant was owned by none other than Kim Seokjin himself, you already had an inkling he was invited to GCAEA’s event tonight.

Your suspicions had been confirmed as one of the event’s producers sent you an email earlier this morning, that which contains the list of nominees for the title of GCAEA’s Chef of the Year – the same title that was bestowed upon you just last year. Seokjin was the first nominee for this year’s awarding ceremony.

Kudos to him. Despite knowing that your hatred for him was fueled by more personal reasons, you knew deep down inside the recesses of your brain that he was a really, really talented chef. Probably just as good as you – of course, you can easily admit that you’re still lacking in plenty but you don’t think your pride will allow you to accept defeat from Seokjin just like that after all he’d done.

You only had the chance to look at Seokjin for a good seven seconds yesterday, but it had taken you at least seven hours, a tub of ice cream, and a Captain America movie marathon to reassure yourself that having seen him so close yesterday wasn’t just an actual nightmare.

As much as you hated to admit it, he remained just as handsome as he was three years ago. What you couldn’t get over with though, was how he actually smiled at you yesterday. That little fucker had to audacity to show his perfect little pearly whites at you! All over again, you’re reminded of how he left you in his room the morning after, or how much of a fucking fool you were for having believed that the two of you could’ve been something more than friends.

Rearranging your dress for the nth time today, you take another look at the mirror, twisting and turning to see if there might be some thread hanging off the hems of the dress. You’re starting to question your decided outfit for the night. You had a dress done just for this event – or more specifically, what sort of dress Jinhee had ordered to be sewn just for this event.

It hugged your curves perfectly – the dress a perfect merger between modest and seductive. It had a nude-illusion base with silver sequins sewn onto the thin fabric and a low-cut neckline that gives everyone a lovely view of your cleavage.

This one could easily pass as an evening gown for a Miss Universe candidate. You felt confident, beautiful, and sexy but at the same time you felt like you wanted to just huddle yourself up in your duvet in the corner of your room and eat ice cream. You weren’t uncomfortable with showing skin from time to time, but having been clad in a double-breasted jacket on a daily means it felt strange having your neckline displayed in public.

Your phone dings, indicating a text message. Yoongi had offered to be your chauffeur for this evening, of course, after being coerced and bribed by Jinhee into doing it.

[yoongles 🍷 ] 6:43pm

hurry up, or i’ll leave you behind

[you] 6:43pm

yoongs

It’s MY car WE’RE using

you don’t even have my keys yet

[yoongles 🍷 ] 6:45pm

u get the idea, woman

dont keep me waiting

“Well maybe if you won’t stop texting, I’ll be quicker,” you grumble to your phone, placing it inside your purse so Yoongi won’t bother you any longer. Doing one last twirl in the mirror, you grab your necessities you’ve gathered on your bedside table and sweep them into your purse.

“You clean up nicely, boss.”

Squinting your eyes at Yoongi with his words, you send him a grateful smile nonetheless. “I’m gonna take that as a compliment.” This was the closes thing to an actual compliment that you were ever going to receive from Yoongi in your entire lifetime, so you were sure to keep his words close to your heart.

Taking your car keys from your purse, you toss them to Yoongi who catches them deftly with one hand. “Ooh, you looked cool when you did that.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You gave me a compliment, so I’m going to give you one in return. As a token of gratitude.”

“Remind me never to say anything to you ever again.”

“Hey! You talk back like that to the woman who’s giving you money for your daily needs?! And you won’t even open the door for me?” you ask your past neighbor-turned-sommelier-turned-close-friend. “It’s called a salary, Ms. _______. And I receive that as compensation because I give you my services in exchange for it. Plus, I’m already seated here,” Yoongi shrugs, adjusting the rear view mirror.

Rolling your eyes, you begrudgingly open the door to your backseat, exerting much effort in swinging one leg after the other with your incredibly tight evening gown. And, of course making sure the short train won’t get caught between the car doors.

Yoongi checks if you’re all good through the rear-view mirror and once he sees you buckle up, he lets the engine roar to life. You take out your phone from your purse to see if you’ve received any other emails, only for the phone to get flung from your hands – including you.

The car surges forward all of a sudden and Yoongi steps on the breaks just in time. You hear Yoongi curse under his breath, looking over his shoulder to check if you’re okay. “Shit! I forgot you drove a Maserati!”

“I think the more appropriate thing to do is to ask me if I’m still okay…Also, it doesn’t matter what kind of car I drive, because I think you forgot how to actually drive at all.” You complain, adjusting the seatbelt across your chest, the sudden jolt leaving a diagonal red mark just by your collarbone.

“Well, you aren’t dead, so technically speaking, you’re okay.” Unbelievable. You let out a loud scoff, unable to think of anything wittier to say. “Just please get me there in one piece, Yoongs.”

You manage to get to the hotel in one piece. Thank heavens.

The small talk you made with Yoongi on your way to the hotel had temporarily taken your mind off the jitters but now that he’s left you standing by the entrance of the hotel, the nerves had definitely returned, tenfold. You’re also unfortunately dropped off at a spot where a standee of yours holding the Gourmet Chef of the Year award is staring back at you. God, you hated that photo. They did not give your eyebrows justice, at all.

You exhale all your nervousness away as you take the steps to the lobby. “_______!” Someone calls out, the voice too familiar to miss out on.  “Sunbae!” You turn around to see one of the most revered chefs in Korea, and definitely one of your favorite mentors, Choi Jiyoung. The woman nearing her fifties extends her arms out in greeting and you give her a tight hug. You had worked under her supervision in the past, and she had taught you almost everything you knew about Korean cuisine.  

“Ah, it’s been too long darling! Look at you! You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman!” Misun praises as her grip on you tightens and pulls you by the elbow, “Surely, there’s a lucky man that has swept my sweet _______ by now!” Your senior adds, punctuating her sentence with a wink at the end.

“I’ve been pretty busy these days… and dating hasn’t really crossed my mind recently.”

‘That’s because the last man I’ve wanted to date was three years ago and he’d just considered me a one-night stand and now after I’ve struggled to burn his existence from my memory and to be very frank with you, I really haven’t gotten over him and now he just so happens to be the owner of the restaurant beside mine. Also, he’s stealing my customers.’ Comes your real answer inside your head, but you’ll never tell anyone that.

Jiyoung pouts at your answer, but taps your forearm, “We’ll talk more about that inside. Come on darling, the event is starting.”

Seokjin sees you finally enter the lobby, eyes scanning the few people scattered around the area as you look for a familiar face you could approach. All eyes are on you, yet you don’t notice, like always. You don’t realize how beautiful you are, blushing furiously under the simplest compliments. You’ve got this certain charm that certainly draws people towards you, all the more when they get to know you better, just like what you did to him.

Seokjin remembers the first time he’d actually seen you – on the television. He’d been scrolling aimlessly through the channels, trying to look for something to watch as he waits for the water to boil for his ramen. He’d accidentally stopped by Channel K99’s ‘Choi Jiyoung Kitchen Specials’ reruns during midnight when he checked his phone after it dinged, alerting him of a notification on his email: just another alert to renew his ‘KOREA’ magazine subscription, where he’d secretly get new recipes, try them out, add a little twist, and serve them to his customers at his parent’s restaurant.

As he was about to press the off button on the remote, you enter the frame as the camera pans out when Choi Jiyoung introduces you as her new assistant and protégé. For some reason, this show just got all the more interesting for Seokjin, who’s clearly drawn to you and not the scrumptious seafood platter that Chef Choi was preparing.

He’d followed you on all his social media accounts after that night, even going as far as turning on his notifications for each post you made. He was unsure what had drawn him to you in the first place – whether it be the fact that you were probably the first female chef he’d seen in Korea that was just about his age (that or he really just didn’t pay any attention to women in the same field during the early years of his career), or that you were unbelievably skilled at such a young age with apparently, a lot of culinary awards and certificates under your belt.

Funny enough, Seokjin wasn’t really one to delve into the world of pastry but judging from your most recent Instagram posts during those days, you had taken interest in patisserie, which only caused Seokjin to attempt baking his own first croissant. He finally understood your enthusiastic devotion for it ever since. Then came Les Coulisses Du Chef, where Rafa, an exchange-student-turned-friend of his from his culinary school days had secured him a slot for a semester at the prestigious school of gastronomy in Paris to get a certificate on French pastry.

He wasn’t expecting you though, out of all people, to join the official list of the class as well, last minute.

It took him three weeks before he finally spoke to you, much to Rafa’s exasperation. Seokjin would keep nagging the French man, telling him how much he wanted to talk to you, yet he can’t seem to grow some balls to do so. In annoyance, he’d told Seokjin that the best way to break the ice was to tell a joke – this time, much to Seokjin’s chagrin. He’d never thought secondhand embarrassment was a thing until Seokjin actually heeded his advice and told you about the ‘impasta’. Surprisingly enough, it worked, so voila!

If only you knew how nervous Seokjin was during that time, clammy hands and all. In fact – if only you knew how jittery Seokjin was whenever he was near you. He’s pretty sure he’d ruined his credibility and career after busting out that lame ass joke Rafa had told him, but it turned out to be the only way he actually got closer to you so he was partly grateful for Rafa’s advice – reputation be damned. 

Just like tonight, the moment his eyes fall on you, he feels like he’s being drawn back to his room, eyes trained on you as you diligently followed each of Chef’s Choi’s directions, or that time he’d first spoke to you back in your French patisserie class. He diverts his gaze elsewhere from the fear that you might catch him staring.

“Hey, man. Isn’t that ________? The girl you’ve been crushing on since forever?” Minjae asks, elbowing Seokjin at the waist. The latter grimaces slightly in pain, before reluctantly letting his gaze settle on you once more.

Jungkook returns from the bathroom, joining the duo by the reception. “Wow, who’s that?” the younger man asks, nodding towards your direction. With Jungkook being a fairly new member of the association, curiosity is getting the best of him with all the faces he’s seeing.

Similar to a little kid at a toy shop, he’s constantly asking his hyungs if the people he was seeing were the actual people he’d seen on the internet or on the television. Minjae, who indulges every question of the maknae of their small circle of friends with great enthusiasm, answers Jungkook. “That’s _______, Kook.”

“No way! That’s her?! As in the _________?” The only female chef in Korea who received her first Michelin star in her twenties?! As in ________ Choi Jiyoung’s protégé?!”

“Yes, Kook, that’s her alright. And also the same ________ who will hear you soon enough and will find you weird if you don’t keep your voice down.”

“She’s also the same recipient of the award your Seokjin hyung is nominated for this year,” Jiwon adds, wriggling his eyebrows at Seokjin.

“That’s so cool!” Jungkook exclaims as their whole group watches you approach the infamous Choi Jiyoung. “Hyung, do you think she’s single?” Jungkook asks to nobody in particular, considering they were all his hyungs. Minjae and Jiwon glance at Seokjin who returns their glances with a light glare.

“Why don’t you go find out after the party then?” Seokjin suggests, ignoring that certain pang of jealousy that blossoms in his chest at his own proposal.

“Tell me you’re kidding, hyung.”

“Huh?”

“Come on! That’s your girl! You’re going to let go of her just like that?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Kook.”

“Hyung. I may be the maknae, but I am neither blind nor dumb. Anyone with two eyes and a functioning brain will know you have the hots for her.” Minjae and Jiwon snicker at the younger one’s comment. Seokjin, albeit being second to the youngest, gives them a glare the makes them cower behind Jungkook.

“Am I really that obvious?”

“Well no. But every time we go out, the only notifications that pop up in your screen are her posts on Instagram. Don’t you think that’s a tad bit…pathetic, hyung?”

Ooh and aahs  come from the two other men, who are reveling at the harsh bluntness of Jungkook’s words. It’s the maknae who receives Seokjin’s side-eye next. “Need I remind you who’s the older one here?”

“The point exactly! We’re not getting any younger, hyung. Better ask her out now…before I beat you to it.” Seokjin’s mouth falls open in astonishment, while Jungkook just smiles at him in return. “Come on hyung, they’re calling us inside.”

“Well, well, would you look at that stunner over there?” She comments, nodding her head towards someone over your shoulder. There he was, the infamous Kim Seokjin, clad in an all-black ensemble, a single silver chain necklace hanging on his neck. His hair is swept to the side, revealing a bit of his forehead.

“Oh boy.” Jung Chungae fans herself as your greatest rival turns sideways, showing off his side-profile while animatedly telling a story to a fellow colleague seated with them. “Oh how I wish we could just go back to our golden years for just one night!” The rest of the table laughs at Chungae’s comment.

“I personally think you and that man would make a great couple.” Jiyoung says, leaning towards you.

“The other man sat on his right doesn’t seem to think that way though,” Chungae says, picking on her dessert, whispering ‘cute guy from same table’ discreetly. As if on cue, the rest of the ladies, you included, turn your heads towards Seokjin’s table. True to sunbae Chungae’s implications, there was another man beside Seokjin who was staring back at you. You believe Jungkook was his name… nevertheless, you get shy under his stare, averting your eyes back to the presently attractive flower arrangement at the center of your table.

The servers pile inside in pairs, approaching each table to take your dessert plates. You see the host rise from his chair and take the stairs to the stage. He taps the microphone, checking if the audio was working, “To announce this year’s Gourmet Chefs Association of East Asia – Chef of the Year award, may I call on Ms. _________.”

Minjae nudges Seokjin as you stand up from your seat. “Hyung, quit it before other people see you.”

“Come on now, get your ass up and walk her to the stage!”

“She can perfectly walk on her own though?”

“Come on, it’s plus points both for her and the crowd! Give these oldies a show, idiot.”

“N-“

“Hyung, if you won’t do it, I will.” Jungkook says from across the table, eyeing you as you excuse yourself from the other ladies in your table.

Seokjin stares at Jungkook and purses his lips. He discards of the napkin on his lap at once, lightly throwing the piece of cloth on the table. As he stands up, few murmurs of curiosity follow him as he approaches you.

“Ms. ________, may I?” You’re surprised when somebody suddenly appears on your side, offering his arm out for you to hold onto. You hear sunbae Jiyoung quietly cheer you on, nodding her head once to accept Seokjin’s display of manners. The rest of the audience likewise cheers the young man on with a few men whooping and a number of ladies cooing at the sight.  Frankly, it wasn’t even that long of a walk until the stage but a part of you was grateful, knowing for yourself that you truly weren’t used to wearing long dresses like these. 

As you both reach the stage, with your hand hooked around Seokjin’s elbow, he places another hand atop yours for extra support. The action seems to have the opposite effect. Suddenly all too aware of the proximity between you two, a shiver runs through your spine, secretly hoping the gulp that you make at the sensation goes unnoticed. At the end of the stairs, you give him a curt bow and say your thanks, unable to look him in the eye.

The emcee hands you the microphone and an envelope, containing the name of the awardee. You tap the mic once, then twice. “This is on, right?” The audience laughs in response. “Woops, sorry,” you apologize meekly before starting your half-impromptu, half-practiced speech.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank, first and foremost, the board of judges who have bestowed upon me this same award this time last year, and now I have had the greatest honor to announce the awardee later on. I would also like to send my gratitude to all those who have been my mentors here in Korea and overseas – for I have taken your pieces of advice to my heart and they have guided me wonderfully throughout these years, especially sunbae Choi Jiyoung, who has molded me into the woman and chef that I am today. Also, here’s a special mention to Chef Lee for having prepared this wonderful course for us this lovely evening – I absolutely admire how he manages to make Korean staples like Kimchi Jjigae and Pajeon so…flavorful like it’s been made with his entire heart and soul poured into each detail. Wow. Could we have a round of applause for Chef Lee tonight?”

The audience complies quickly with your request while Chef Lee gives you a bow of gratitude by the doors of the event hall.

“Lastly, I would also like to acknowledge the presence of a beloved mentor of mine, back when I took patisserie classes back in Paris – Mr. Frank Boucher, who had, by the way, also prepared his signature Apple Tarte Tatin for our dessert tonight. So without further ado, the Gourmet Chefs Association of East Asia – Chef of the Year award goes to, drumroll please!” Your tongue feels like it got stuck in your throat, but you pull yourself back to reality quick enough so no one else notices.

“Kim Seokjin! Congratulations!”

Seokjin had just barely gotten back to his seat when he hears his name being called. He stands up, beautiful facial features twisted into one of confusion. “You won Chef of the Year bro! Congrats!” Minjae pats Seokjin’s butt briefly before pushing him back towards the stage.

As you hand him the trophy, you give each other a small smile, likewise posing for the cameras. The photographer gestures for you to scoot closer to each other with his hands. It’s getting harder to fake your smile. You wanted nothing more but to go home. Or maybe you could pass by Canapé and take a bottle of wine home for yourself 

Thankfully, the awarding the Chef of the Year signals the nearing conclusion of the event, and as soon as you get back to your seat, you send a text to Yoongi, telling him that the event will be over in a couple more minutes.

The event ends quicker than expected, and you find yourself bidding goodbye to everyone else as soon as the emcee officially ends the ceremony. You badly wanted to go home and rest, with only a few hours left for sleep before another work day starts.

You see Yoongi pull up by the entrance after a few more minutes. “How was the party?” You tell him what happened during the event, completely leaving out Seokjin’s appearance and antics. “Let’s just drop you off by your apartment first then I’ll go drive back to the restaurant to grab something.”

“I can go with?”

“It’s fine Yoongs. Besides, we have work in a few hours. You already sleep during work, what more if I keep you awake for an extra couple of minutes tonight?”

Yoongi just shakes his head at you, saying nothing else in reply. He finds you uncharacteristically quiet after a big event like this and wants to ask you about it, but you seem too lost in your thoughts that he doesn’t want to bother you any further. You arrive at his place shortly and as you get down from the car to switch places, you give him a hug and thank him for being your chauffeur. “Oh, and _______? Your French Cabernet Sauvignon is at the third row from the top. And drink at home, please. See you tomorrow.”

Passing through the main entrance of your restaurant, you turn on a few lights by the wine rack to aid your search for the alcoholic beverage. You make a beeline for the wooden structure attached to the wall. Third row from the top… reaching out, you grab on a bottle, reading out its name, ‘Chateau Pichon Longueville 2015 Pauillac’. This will most likely do the trick.

All of a sudden, a knock comes from your door, startling you out of your wits. Quickly, you scurry to the kitchen, looking for something that can protect you in case this person means harm. Your extensive collection of knives is what comes into your mind first, but you wouldn’t want them to be considered murder weapons, in case the worst scenario comes into play.

So you settle for the rolling pin, clutching the cylindrical utensil tightly in your hands. “Who’s there?” you call out, hoping the fear wont seep through your words. “Um, it’s Frank. Frank Boucher. Is that you inside, _______?”

Letting your hands fall to the side, you cautiously near the door, still clutching the rolling pin in your hands. You can’t be too sure nowadays. You sneak a glace through the glass panels to confirm his identity. Breathing a sigh of relief when you see it really was your mentor back in Paris, you set aside the rolling pin and unlock the door.

“_________!”

“Ah, and to what do I owe this pleasure, Chef Boucher?”

“I wanted to talk to you back at the event, but I’m guessing you left early…”

“Um, yes…still a lot of work to do tomorrow.”  

“Can I get you anything, perhaps? I- I grabbed a bottle of wine just now… would you like some? Or water maybe?”

“Wine is always a great choice, _______. Also I’m here to tell you something important, but I’ll let you grab two glasses first, for our usage.”

“Of course! Please feel free to sit anywhere you like.”

“Quaint restaurant you have here, ______. This is the same Canapé you told me in your email right?”  

“Yep! Would you mind a few crackers and goat’s cheese to go with the wine?”

“That sounds perfect, though you really don’t have to bother yourself with all of that…” You shrug off his comment, reassuring him that it was the least you could do after having taught you so much when you were back in Paris.

You finally get everything ready, one hand holding a plate full of crackers and cheese, while the other holds two wine glasses. As soon as you get seated, Frank takes upon him the honor of opening the bottle, pouring a sufficient amount of the beverage onto your glasses. “I meant to give this to you personally earlier, but I could no longer find you after the party ended.” He hands you a white envelope with your name and Canapé’s address printed at the back. 

“You’ve been invited to the Asian Gourmet Conference in the Philippines next week.” You choke on the wine you’re drinking, embarrassingly turning into a coughing mess in front of your mentor. He looks at you expectantly as you open the envelope.

“Wait. This is real?! No way!” Frank laughs at your reaction, excitement evident in your voice as you skim over the words indicated on the paper. “Oh my goodness! This is such a great event! And the opportunities! Please bring the wine home, Chef Boucher! It’s on the house.” The French man laughs harder at your offer, but he doesn’t decline.

“I’m glad you’re this excited, because you’re going with Seokjin.”

Immensely thanking the heavens that you were looking down the whole time while reading the document, else your mentor would’ve seen the instantaneous scowl that graced your face at the mere mention of the-man-who-shall-not-be-named.

You force a smile onto your features before looking back up at Frank. “Kim Seokjin? As in Kim Seokjin who just won GCAEA’s Chef of the Year Award earlier?”

With slumped shoulders, you lean farther backward in your seat. The Asian Gourmet Conference was one of the most anticipated conferences in the whole of Asia. It was an event highly awaited by many in the culinary field, especially one of its main events where they invite gourmet chefs from all parts of the world to compete for the best dish ever and a $200,000 prize.

The contest was another thing though, because two representatives will be vying for each country, so the winning pair will get to come home with $100,000 each. You really wouldn’t have put any thought into who your partner would have been if you were.

Your head fills with dread at the thought of having Seokjin as your partner. It was bad enough that he owns the gourmet restaurant next to yours, and that he’d attended GCAEA which caused more unwanted interactions with him.

“Yes him. From what I’ve heard, people say he’s a rising star, and that his newly established restaurant was getting a lot of good reviews.”

“It’s the restaurant next to mine, chef.”

“Ha! Seems like you’ve finally met your match, darling. Pretty sure that can apply romance-wise as well…”

“Why does everybody keep shipping us?” You wonder, subconsciously vocalizing your thoughts.

“You two look like you have his-…I think… you two would just look great together!”

“Ship? You know what ship means?” You look at him incredulously.

“It’s when you like the idea of two people together right? My daughter says it all time because of these Korean boys with bright hair – actually, when she knew I was going here to attend GCAEA as a guest she kept on nagging me to buy her albums and these sticks…”

“Sticks?”

“Yeah, the lightning ones?”

“Lightning?” You stifle a laugh. “You mean lightsticks, right?”

“Whatever they’re called, _______.” Frank Boucher gives you his infamous glare.

Nearly snorting at the sight of your mentor looking physically and mentally exhausted with trying to keep up with his fangirling daughter, you offer him another bottle because he seems like he needs it more than you do.

Your conversation falls into talking about your current lives and the stresses of running a restaurant, with Frank eventually leading the conversation about the person you’d least likely enjoy talking about. He tells you about your neighboring rival, how he’s done just as well with his own place like what you did with yours. He’s proud that both of his students had established their names in Korea’s gourmet society even at such a young age.

The clocks finally hits ten thirty and Frank takes this as his cue to get going.“Great! Your plane ticket and hotel booking has probably already been sent by my secretary to your email. The convention is only for three days, but the two extra days are on me. Take it as a gift for Canapé’s opening. Go enjoy yourself, _______”

Forcing another bright smile onto your face, you bid your goodbye to your mentor, locking the front door of your restaurant as he leaves.  Five days with Seokjin. May the gods have mercy on you.

The four-hour flight to the Philippines had been excruciatingly awkward. To say the least.

You hadn’t talked to each other for the most part. In fact, the only time you had interacted with each other was when you’d waken him up because you had already landed at the airport. The both of you had barely spoken to each other even on your way to the hotel. Occasionally he’d ask you questions that only warranted monosyllabic responses from you.

You’re glad that weariness passed as the only excuse for the lack of interaction. The moment you’d met up at the airport, fatigue had already been evident in both your faces, so your pair had ended up with alternating sleeping schedules during the length of your flight and up to the taxi ride to your hotel.

Only a few words were shared between you when you’ve finally arrived in front of your rooms – something along the lines of ‘good night’ and ‘see you tomorrow’. As you let sleep take over you that night, you pray that everything will go smoothly for the entirety of your stay.

“Lovely afternoon to all of you present here today at this year’s Asian Gourmet Conference!” Excited applause falls amongst the crowd, cheering on different countries, even though they screamed the most for Team Philippines. The host greets the audience and the participants one more time, before proceeding to the guidelines of the event.

“For the first challenge of our main event, we’d like the chefs to cook two staple dishes from their respective home countries – but with a twist! Our chefs will have to use Filipino ingredients only! This is where we put their creativity and talent to the test. To our chefs, please be reminded that we will be giving you an hour to prepare your fusion dishes. While you guys are cooking, I’ll be going around to interview almost fifty chefs who have come from all parts of the world just to join us today.”

You start brainstorming with Seokjin the moment the host leaves the stage. “You’ve been to the Philippines a few times right? You’ve tried some of their food?” your partner asks, turning to you. You’re surprised he even remembered…if you had recalled properly, you had only mentioned it once back in Paris that you did visit the Philippines on occasion.

“Um, yes…I’ve been here a couple of times,” you reply, racking your brain for any Korean dishes that might hold any similarity with Korean staples. “I only remember Sinigang, and Adobe…”

“I’m pretty sure they call it Adobo here Seokjin,” you make no attempt to suppress the giggle the escapes your lips as he mistakes computer software for food.

“But the challenge is only to make our home country’s staples with Philippine ingredients… so this shouldn’t be that big of a fusion problem since rice is also considered a vital part of their meals here…”

“You think good ‘ole Bibimbap will do? Pretty much all the ingredients are available here…What else could we have?” Seokjin asks, taking a notepad and a pen from his jacket. “We can have tteokbokki for the appetizer and bingsu for dessert.”

You get to cooking right after you and Seokjin agree on the ingredients you were going to use. Maybe working with Seokjin wasn’t so bad after all. Not even fifteen minutes into the competition, you see a few girls cheer Seokjin on, ceaselessly calling your partner “Seokjin oppa!” They screams only seem to spur Seokjin on, who’s now showing off his knife skills. You roll your eyes as you shake your head, crushing the garlic a little too hard against the board.

“Jealous much?” your partner asks. You can feel Seokjin smirking beside you.

“You wish, Kim Seokjin.”

“Whatever floats your boat, ________,” he sighs, “If only my partner could also send me words of encouragement rather than staying silent the whole time,” he mumbles to himself, thinking it wasn’t loud enough for you to hear.

“You and I both know this mouth is better at something else.” You turn to him, giving Seokjin a playful wink before setting the ingredients to the bibimbap on one side. He nearly drops the knife he’s holding at your comment, obviously scandalized by your innuendo.

Even with the time racing against you, everything was still going as planned, you just needed to hurry with the final parts of the dishes and you’d be able to beat the buzzer which was bound to ring in less than twenty minutes. That is until the salt container placed on top of this tall arrangement of pots topples over the shaved ice you’ve prepared for the bingsu. You see the ice melt before your eyes, and you quickly move to the container, removing some of the ice that was turning into water.

“Shit! Sorry ________!” He drops the pans he held in his arms onto the sink, scampering to your side afterwards. “Can I help –“

“No! I…It’s fine, Seokjin, just…just go back to whatever you were doing earlier. And please be careful next time.” Seokjin nods curtly, before going back to clean the pans. “______, why does it smell like something’s burning?”

“Fuck!” Cursing under your breath, you hurry towards the pot where the rice was cooking. As you remove the cover, the smell of burnt rice and a failed dish wafts through your nose, causing you to take a deep breath as you attempt to calm yourself down.

Reluctantly, you scoop out the rice that wasn’t burnt and place it onto the stone pot and start plating your bibimbap. Seokjin likewise helps you finish plating the tteokbokki and bingsu in silence.

Needless to say, your burnt rice didn’t make it through the first round. It didn’t mean that you were disqualified from the competition though, but in order to win the cash prize, you will have to make it through all three challenges of the event. That same evening as you take the cab back to the hotel, the despondence in the air is thicker than ever.

“See you tomorrow, ______.” Seokjin says, giving you a small smile as he stops in front of his door.

“Right. See you tomorrow, Seokjin. Sleep well.”

It’s ironic how it was you who actually needed that phrase and not Seokjin. You’ve watched the clock tick away, turned on the television for something to watch on the local news channels which were thankfully spoken in English, you had also resorted to Netflix on your phone, but all to no avail.

Admittedly, you had finished an Iced Americano in fifteen minutes earlier this morning but you figure it’s the entire ‘burnt rice’ accident that’s keeping you awake at this hour. Heaving a deep sigh, you lift the covers off your body, put on a hoodie and headed outside.

You pause by Seokjin’s door momentarily, with the strong urge to knock on his door and apologize for your lack of professionalism earlier this afternoon. Seokjin didn’t really mean to pour the salt over the ice at the event, and the way you reacted was unnecessarily rude.

Seokjin was probably asleep though, and you didn’t want to further embarrass yourself by waking him in the middle of the night. Retracting your hand that was merely inches away from his door, you turn on your heel and decide to apologize to him first thing in the morning tomorrow. Maybe even get him an extra something to show the depth of your regret and guilt.

After having asked the receptionist for directions towards the nearest convenience store, you’re suddenly regretting having worn shorts on your way out – the exposed skin of your legs prickling as the chilly evening air bites at it. Spotting 7-Eleven just across the street, you walk quickly towards the convenience store, desperate to feel warmth in this cold night.

The mellifluous sound of the bell echoes throughout the small store as you enter, that particular smell of convenience stores wafting through your senses. You decide to explore the shop a little, trying to look for something to eat.

Quite ironically, you’ve cooked nearly a thousand dishes in your lifetime, and having to cook another shouldn’t be that much of a burden but when your mind is swirling with thoughts just like tonight, you can’t seem to bring yourself to cook even the simplest dish – like it’s too great of a task to burden yourself with.

So during times like this, you turn to instant noodles, the ultimate lifesaver since your culinary school days. Hopefully no one from GCAEA or the AGC finds you like this, a dignified gourmet chef who’s starting to establish her name in the culinary field, crawling convenience stores in the middle of the night and slurping instant noodles away like it’s her last day on Earth.

You finally get to the noodles section, where you see a man in a hoodie, likewise skimming through the same aisle as you. The receptionist had told you to be wary of sketchy-looking people especially during the wee hours of the morning so you hurry with your own search as you look for a certain brand of cup noodles. Shin Ramyeon.

It should be here somewhere… As far as you’re concerned as a consumer, it’s being exported to over a hundred countries now so it must be here. Going over the entire aisle one last time, you finally see the red cup, reaching over the lone cup of Shin Ramyeon left on the shelf. The problem was, you weren’t the only one who was reaching for it.

Why do those fingers look insanely familiar?

Your eyes widen gradually as you slowly trail them up to see the owner of those hands. Of course, who else could it have been? You call out each other’s name at the same time.

“Seokjin.” “________.”

“You can have it.” You spoke in unison again.

“It’s fine really, you can have it. I’ll just look for another brand,” you tell him, handing over the cup with perfectly controlled reluctance.

“Would you mind if we shared, perhaps?” You stare at him, completely taken aback by his offer. “Or not…I mean- forget I even said that… Here take it.” He hands the cup to you and starts to leave.

“Jin! I- I don’t mind sharing.” Biting on his lip, he attempts to hide the smile that slowly etches into his face as he hears the nickname only you have for him. He turns to face you again. “Okay.” Seokjin gives you a smile, grabs the cup noodles from your grasp and orders you to look for seats while he pays for your shared midnight snack.  

Slowly, you trudge towards the limited number of seats they offer at the convenience store and find a spot by the windows. Seokjin arrives at your table a couple of minutes afterwards.

It was now or never. You owed Seokjin an apology after having rudely declined his offer of help during the event, even when the whole fiasco was just an accident. You figure if you don’t apologize for your unjust behavior, guilt is most likely going to eat at you for a very, very long time. Seokjin’s dejected yet still beautiful face will haunt you in your dreams.

As Seokjin busies himself with adding the ingredients onto the paper cup, you take this opportunity to speak up. “Jin,” you start, the nickname sending Seokjin’s heart into another frenzy. “About the bibimbap earlier, I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize, ________. It was my fault anyway. I should be the one apologizing right now, but…hold that thought for a moment…” He looks away, letting out a sneeze. “….it’s the powder seasoning, sorry… As I was saying, I’d also like to apologize about what happened earlier, I mean if I didn’t try to carry so much, the salt wouldn’t have toppled over.”

“Hey! I should be the one apologizing right now! Stop stealing my thunder!” You pout, begrudgingly taking the small carton of milk Seokjin bought to go with the ramen. You can’t say you aren’t pleasantly surprised at how he remembers this habit of yours too. For some reason, he remembers how you always have milk ready whenever you eat something spicy.

“Anyways… I also wanted to apologize for my rude behavior towards you back at the event. It was an accident, yet I reacted badly and declined your assistance. It was only after the event that I realized that we’re supposed to be helping each other, and not treating each other poorly.”

“Don’t worry yourself too much about it, ______. Besides, we still have two days to redeem ourselves right?” Seokjin sends a warm smile your way, one you cannot help but return.

“What else are you waiting for? The ramen is getting cold and lonely.”

“You sure you aren’t talking about yourself?”

“You know, I’m thinking maybe you should get your own instant noodles,” Seokjin comments, fingers curling around the paper cup.

“Okay, okay, geez.” Throwing your hands up in defense, you thank him for paying for the noodles and the milk before pulling your chopsticks apart and digging in. As you take your first bite, Seokjin suddenly speaks up.

“Is it just me, or I am really very anxious right now…what if someone might see us?”

“Last time I checked, there’s nothing wrong with eating inside a convenience store.”  

“No, no. But we’re like… owners…of restaurants…that serve gourmet food…yet here we are, at half past twelve in the morning, sharing cup noodles like it’s the last meal in the world due to a zombie apocalypse.”

“I get how you feel, but I don’t think we’d agree on the zombie apocalypse part…”

The conversation flows naturally between the both of you, like two friends casually catching up with each other’s lives. Seokjin was in the middle of talking when you hear the pitter-patter of rain outside. Tiny droplets of water slide down the glass panels, slowly turning into heavier ones.

You look at each other. “Should we?”

“We can wait this out if you’d like…” Seokjin proposes, though he isn’t so sure he wants to go with his offer either. The sudden downpour doesn’t seem like it was going to stop anytime soon. “Forget what I said, we should leave before this gets worse. Wait here.” Seokjin stands up,  goes through each aisle of the convenience store, and returns to where you’re seated. “Damn, they just ran out of umbrellas.”

“We could just run back the hotel…it’s just one crosswalk away.”

“You sure about that? What if you get sick?”

“Let’s just hope we won’t then.” Seokjin gives you a nod in approval. “Before we go out though,” he pulls his hoodie off his torso, giving you a slight show of his abdominals as he raises his hands. You abruptly look away, before nasty thoughts overcome you.

Placing his hoodie over both your heads, Seokjin peers down at you. “Ready when you are.” The quick sprint back to the hotel has you both screaming and laughing at the same time. You weren’t surprised that Seokjin’s hoodie barely served its purpose. You were both drenched from the neck down, attracting unwanted attention from people with your appearance.

With less than a few more steps before you reach your hotel rooms, you feel trepidation bubbling in the pit of your stomach. What’s going to happen now? Were you supposed to forget what happened between the two of you three years ago just like that? Was your midnight ramen run officially a clean slate?

Seokjin has his back facing you, the thin, white material of his shirt clinging sinfully to his skin. Every second spent with Seokjin was the best form of punishment in both ways “Are you going to sleep?” You don’t think that was going to happen anytime soon, now that you’re once again blessed with his visuals and perfectly sculpted body.

Seokjin turns to face you, waiting for your response. You shake your head no, eyes unabashedly staring at the outline of his six-pack. The man lets out a cough, drawing you out of your reverie. “Wanna keep warm for a bit and talk over hot chocolate?”

Why do you get the feeling it’s not just hot chocolate that’s going to keep you warm tonight?

“Sure.” Your voice comes out small, swallowing loudly as he unlocks the door to his room. 

The tension in the air is so thick that you’re actually having difficulty trying to breathe normally. Seokjin sets his wet hoodie on the floor before meeting your eyes, pupils already dilated. He momentarily holds his stare, eyes raking all over your equally drenched body. He points a finger sideways, “Hot chocolate.” Subconsciously chewing on your bottom lip, you nod, unable to form any coherent words in your head.

As he heads towards the kitchenette, you rub your face with your hands, before placing a hand over your chest. “Calm down, girl. It’s not like you’ve never seen abs before.” This is like Paris all over again, and you weigh the possible outcome of this situation. If you’re reading the signs right, Seokjin is clearly just affected as you are. Are you really willing to wear your heart out on your sleeve like this one more time? You rack your brain for answers, yet all it does is betray you with images of the rippling muscles underneath Seokjin’s shirt.

Ah, fuck it.

“Jin?” you call out as you reach the wall separating the kitchenette. Just as you peek through the divider, Seokjin rakes a hand through his temple, his hair now pushed back and forehead visible. You practically hear your resolve shattering into pieces.

Taking initiative, you close the distance between the both of you, connecting your lips with his in a feverish kiss. He tastes spicy – just like the ramen you’ve shared just minutes ago, but god, your favorite ramen and Seokjin’s lips; if that ain’t the hottest combination in the world – both literally, and figuratively.

You kiss Seokjin fervently like you’re going to crumble if his lips aren’t connected with yours. One hand of his raises to get rid of the scrunchie holding your hair up in a ponytail, and he lets his fingers card through your wet hair gently. The intensity of his kiss practically devours you, his hands grabbing hastily at your clothes. He’s itching to take them off your body, yet you feel the hesitation in his actions, waiting for that sign from you before he can do so as he pleases.

Pulling away to take a breather, you tug your hoodie up and off you, with Seokjin helping you with the task. "You don’t know how much I’ve longed for this, fuck." He seizes your mouth with his once more like a man starved.

Seokjin groans as he finally gets a view of the amount of lace you’re wearing underneath your hoodie. “I’d love to have you in your lingerie another time, but for now, let’s get you naked for me, hmm?” You’re barely allowed a second to fully comprehend his statement about lingerie and another time before Seokjin discards of the red lacy bra you have on and attaching his lips to one of your nipples.

Gasping at the sensation, you arch your back so that you’re practically pressing your chest against his face, greedily asking for more. Hooking a finger inside the waistband of your gym shorts, Seokjin easily tugs your shorts down along with your underwear.

He grabs you by the waist and lifts you up to the counter for his convenience. You shiver slightly when your ass comes in contact with the coldness of the marble. As if on instinct, your legs spread wider, seemingly inviting him to come closer to you.

“You’re so fucking hot, you know that?”

“Mhmmm,” your words are muffled as you ardently kiss him. Seokjin brings his lips back to your breasts, biting and pulling at one while the other gets kneaded under his palm. Equally just as impatient as you are, Seokjin lets a hand trail in between your bodies, tentatively brushing against your core to gauge your reaction.

Your body quakes in anticipation, and Seokjin teases you even further by slowly rubbing the pad of his finger on your clit. “Jin, please,” you beseech. “Gotta prepare you first, baby girl.” Letting your head fall back at the sensation (and the pet name!), Seokjin decides to give you what you want, seeing as though you were wet enough that taking his cock right now won’t be a problem. He finally slides a finger inside, your body trembling at the intrusion. God, it’s been too long.

Okay, honestly speaking, you really didn’t take interest in another man when Seokjin entered your life three years ago, and now that you’re back here in this compromising situation with his finger sliding in and out of you languidly, you feel like you could just cum at the thought of it alone.

Seokjin adds another finger, continuing the pace. You moan wantonly as Seokjin curls his fingers, your velvety walls clenching around his digits. He can tell you’re getting close, but he knew it wasn’t enough.

Without having to slide his fingers out of you, Seokjin grabs at one of the chairs and pulls it towards himself so he can sit.

He hooks his arms under your thighs and pulls you closer, merely centimeters away from your cunt. Your cheeks are set ablaze at his brazen action, opening your mouth to say something, falling speechless yet again as Seokjin’s lips come in contact with your nether lips. The man licks a bold stripe along the length of your folds, your hands instantly finding purchase on his hair as you’ve got nothing else to hold on to. He repeats the action all over again, this time adding his fingers to slide in and out of you and toy with your clit. A few more licks and a particular curl of his digits, Seokjin makes you cum for the first time again in three years, so hard that you’re body’s trembling even after he sets your legs down 

You’re breathing heavily, resting your forehead on Seokjin’s temple. “Mind taking a shower with me? It’s important to bathe after running the rain” Seokjin looks up at you, eyes pleading.

“I would, if I’m still able to walk.”

“Who said you were going to walk?” Seokjin maneuvers you on top of the counter, placing his hands under your knees and on your back, carrying you bridal style towards the bath. As soon as he settles you down onto the tub, he turns the faucet on and leaves you there for a moment, telling you that he was just going to grab something from his luggage.

You rest your head against the edge of the tub as you wait for Seokjin. You slowly feel exhaustion taking over you, but when you hear Seokjin’s muted footsteps against the carpeted floor, your eyes pry open only to see Seokjin in his boxers, holding a bath bomb in his palm. You gulp. This was going to be one hell of a night.

Just like before, Seokjin has you cumming thrice in the bath, once when he took you from underneath, making sure that the water fell perfectly on your clit for added stimulation as he slid his length in and out of you. He’d made you cum when you rode him as well, water sloshing everywhere at your naughty shenanigans in the bath. Even after two orgasms, Seokjin just won’t quit, having bent you over as you faced the wall, pounding you from behind.

Seokjin, with his libido seemingly running 24/7 tells you he wasn’t done with you just yet, saying he’s still got three years worth more of fucking to give you. He wanted to give you the most unforgettable sex of your life, and boy, was he adamant about it.

Seemingly not having had enough of you yet after helping you scrub almost the whole expanse of your skin, he finds himself getting hard again at the sight of you in just his shirt and nothing else.  You meant to sleep by that time, but as soon as Seokjin spooned you, you’d felt his clothed erection already grinding against your ass. You no longer kept count of how many times he made you cum.

The sunlight peeks through a tiny slit through the curtains, the heat perfectly hitting your face, causing you to wake up. Your body is sore all over, and as you roll to the other side while stretching out your limbs, you spot next to you empty.

Of course. You’re a fucking dumbass.

Hastily grabbing your clothes strewn across the floor, you head out of his room, tears already brimming in your eyes. Your vision is getting blurry by the second, and you angrily swipe at your cheeks as you feel a singular tear roll down. As you curse Seokjin under your breath, you bump into none other than the devil himself. “Oh! You’re awake?”

You don’t answer, stepping aside so you could go back to your room and rethink your life decisions.

“Where are you going, _______?”

“Out of your room, and hopefully out of your life as well.”

“Wait - ______! What are you talking about?” Seokjin extends his hand to grab your arm.

“Don’t fucking touch me, Seokjin.” The venom laced with your words makes him reel, retracting the arm he had held out to reach you. “I really never meant anything to you, hm? Fuck, I have probably reached desperation to return back into your arms that easily.”

“Desperation? That’s all it was last night? And the one three years ago?”

“I should be the one asking you that question!”

“What?”

“What do you mean ‘what’? Are you really that fucking dense, Seokjin? You were the one who left me alone in the room that morning, and now you’ve done it again. Congratulations on having a new notch on your belt. And I’m a fucking fool for even thinking you felt otherwise!”

“You think I left you that morning?”

“I’m not done yet—what did you say?”

“You were the one who left that morning!”

“I did not! When I woke up, you weren’t there, nor were you anywhere inside your entire apartment! Do you know how embarrassing that was!” You pause, lips trembling, “F-For someone who actually meant something to you only seeing you as just some one-night stand?! Someone who you could use to get your dick wet?!”

“You like m-“

“You’re missing the entire point here, Kim Seokjin!”

“What’s happening here?” A raspy voice asks, the familiar mop of curly hair coming into view. Rafa?

“Oh my god! You like me, fuck! I could just kiss you right now!” Seokjin doesn’t even hesistate, already leaning towards your face and connecting your lips. You almost melt into his arms at the sensation, but you pull away just as instantly, tears freely rolling down. “Am I really just a joke to you, Jin? Have you ever even taken into consideration my feelings, even once?”

“______, darling. This is all a misunderstanding. Well, I did leave that morning, but I just went out to Rafa next door to shower. I—you looked so peaceful as you slept that I really didn’t want to bother waking you up to tell you that I can’t shower with cold water and it’s like déjà vu all of a sudden and…wait!” Seokjin drags poor Rafael who’s still looks like he’s half-asleep. “Rafa can verify the truth!”

Rafael sighs, once again caught in the middle of something he no longer wants to be a part of. “It’s true, ______. This guy’s pretty much in love with you. It’s just an unfortunate fact that this same guy has plenty of annoying habits that gets him in trouble most times. Just like not being able handle water that is below 26 degrees Celsius.”

You’re looking back and forth Seokjin and Rafa, trying to study their features if they’re being questionable or not. Finding no trace of mirth in their eyes, you turn to Seokjin. “You really didn’t leave me that morning and… today?”

“No. I could never. I’m a fucking dumbass for not thinking about what you could’ve felt that time and today…or telling you that I was just heading out to Rafa’s to shower because for some reason my heater isn’t always functioning…” 

“Glad to know you’ve finally acknowledged that you’re a bloody idiot.” Rafa speaks up, narrowing his eyes at Seokjin, taking a sip from his mug. Since when was that in his hands? Rafa sees you stare at his mug, and answers your silent question, “Was planning to drink this while it was hot earlier but I don’t see anything wrong with drinking cold coffee while watching a live action soap opera.”

“Funny how a night of fucking like wild rabbits can do so much to people,” Rafa adds, scoffing as he retreats back to his room. You lean your head towards Seokjin’s chest, embarrassed out of your wits. Seokjin puts an arm around your shoulder pulling you closer to him. “Don’t mind Rafa. He’s just jealous.”

“I can perfectly hear you, Kim Seokjin!”

© hhyungz 2020. All rights reserved.

[sylvanfreckles]

Bedridden (Time for Whump, Boys #16)

Someone has a birthday!

This is for @angelfishofthelord, who not only has a birthday today but also keeps asking for stories in the AU where Ellen and Jo survived "Abandon All Hope" and adopt human!Cas in season 9

This is one of those stories

Summary: Castiel tries to comfort Jo when she's injured on a hunt...only to find himself the one comforted.

...

Castiel froze with a wince as a floorboard creaked beneath his feet, betraying his presence to the occupant of the room at the top of the stairs. It was ridiculous, anyway...he was here to deliver a meal to his bedridden friend, not to sneak past her.

“You might as well come in,” Jo called, her voice muffled through the solid wood of the door. “Not like I can get the door right now.”

Carefully, Castiel nudged the door open and wisely held the tray of food in front of him before entering Jo's room. “I brought nachos,” he offered.

“Oh my god,” Jo groaned. She dropped the paperback novel she'd been reading face down on her bedside table and held her hands out, making grasping motions with her fingers. “Quick, get in here before Mom sees.”

“It was suggested that you might like extra cheese and tomatoes,” Castiel said as he carefully unfolded the tray's legs so it could rest on the bed on either side of Jo's hips.

“Hey, I'll take pulled pork and sauerkraut as long as it's not more oatmeal and chicken broth,” Jo retorted. She was already levering up a chip to cram into her mouth, her other hand cupped close to her chest to catch the dripping cheese. “This is amazing,” she moaned around a mouthful of cheese.

Castiel couldn't help but smile as he gently straightened out the blankets across Jo's legs. Her right leg was wrapped in a heavy cast from just above her knee to the tip of her toes, and even her enthusiasticenjoyment of the nachos couldn't distract from the bandages around her wrists and throat.

Ellen said it was all right. Jo was hurt but they'd made it in time. She'd be okay. Life was all that mattered.

He knew this wouldn't have happened if he'd still been an angel.

“Hey,” Jo's voice pulled him out of his dark thoughts. She was staring at him, eyebrows raised until they all but vanished beneath her bangs. “You really making me eat this whole plate by myself?”

Castiel hesitated for a moment. He needed to eat now, of course—although it was growing tiresome. But there were plenty of simple, inexpensive foods in the kitchen downstairs...leftovers, even, that would go to waste. No use intruding on his friend's convalescence any further when he would be of no use to her.

“I mean it,” Jo said. Her gaze was intense, her eyes suddenly hard to meet. “Get your ass up here and eat some of these before Mom takes 'em away.”

Slowly, carefully, he sat on the very edge of the bed, head down to study his hands in his lap.

“Hey.”

He twisted to look at the young woman. Jo was holding out a nacho, the cheese threatening to overrun her fingers. “Eat it,” she insisted.

He took the chip from her and solemnly took a bite. She huffed out a laugh and returned to the plate. “Come on, man. I could really use the company.”

The nacho reminded him just a little of the Gas-N-Sip. Though the cheese Ellen kept in the kitchen was of a much higher quality than that in the gas station, there was still that combination of the crisp saltiness of the chip and the smoothness of the cheese that he remembered.

“How are these so good?” Jo demanded around another mouthful of cheese. “You have to tell me your secrets.”

Pleased, Castiel edged further back on the bed, until he was sitting against the headboard, bent knee rested on the bed to keep his shoes off the blankets. The least he could do was keep Jo company, after all. “You need to layer the chips and cheese,” he informed her. “Otherwise you end up with a hot mess on top and dry crumbs on the bottom.”

Jo let out an alarming snort and clamped one hand over her mouth. Castiel leaned close and rested a hand on her back. “Jo? Are you all right?”

She waved her free hand, coughing. “Promise me you'll never say that again.”

Castiel leaned back, frowning a little in confusion. “All right....” He'd only been repeating what Brandon had always said. The Gas-N-Sip night supervisor (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday—but not Friday because he was a freelance DJ) had always waxed eloquent on the best ways to prepare the leftover food. Nora didn't care if they ate it, since it had to be thrown out anyway, as long as everything was properly recorded.

“Hey,” Jo elbowed him in the arm and gestured at the two cans resting on the far side of the tray. “What's this?”

“This is, ah,” Castiel picked up one of the cans and held it between his hands, focusing on the label. “BuckSnort root beer.” He didn't need to look to know Jo was staring at him. When he glanced over she just looked from his face to the can of root beer and raised her eyebrows. Castiel sighed.

“You can only find it in Idaho. It's a small batch soda company. Nora bought...she got some for the store but couldn't make an arrangement to carry it, so she gave us the leftover stock.”

“So how does fancy, handmade root beer from Idaho make it all the way here?” Jo asked. She was licking nacho cheese off her fingers, despite the pile of napkins Castiel had left on the tray.

Castiel tried to pull himself out of his memories. His time at the Gas-N-Sip hadn't always been pleasant, but Nora had let him keep the leftover half of that case of root beer. Small kindnesses like that always left him in awe of humanity. “Ellen ordered it. I thought you might like the taste.”

“Oh, no,” Jo shook her head. “Mom must've ordered that for you. You keep it.”

He hesitated for a moment, then leaned over to pull another chip off of her plate. “Are you really making me drink that entire case by myself?”

Jo let out a laughed and picked up her own can. “Fine, you win. Fancy, handmade root beer for everyone!” She held her can out toward him, and he gently touched it with his own.

He popped the top on his can and waited while Jo tasted hers. She took a sip, held the can out at arm's length to study the label, then took a longer drink. “This is...”

“Wintergreen, sassafrass, and licorice,” Castiel explained before drinking from his own can. The carbonation fizzed at his nose and the inside of his mouth, but in an oddly refreshing way.

“It's incredible.” Jo set her can down on her tray and reached over to rest a hand on Castiel's knee. “Thanks, Cas. You have no idea how much I needed this.”

Embarrassment was...odd. It was almost like shame, but tinged with something close to pleasure. It made heat run up the back of his neck to his ears, and he suddenly found himself unwilling to look up from the soda can cradled between his hands.

Jo gave his knee a squeeze before she pulled away to cram another nacho in her mouth. “Oh! I know! It's Thursday, right?”

Castiel squinted up at her, but she was already turned away from him to rustle through the drawer of her bedside table. “That's important?”

She turned back, triumphant, brandishing a TV remote. “Thursday's my favorite day,” she explained with a wink.

The heat was spreading from his ears to his cheeks and he dropped his gaze. Jo let out a teasing laugh and tipped toward him until she could bump him with her shoulder. “The game show channel plays old Jeopardyepisodes all day on Thursdays.”

Castiel stared up at the TV mounted on the wall opposite Jo's bed. Two men and a woman were standing behind podiums, and a third man seemed to be asking them questions. Or answering them, maybe?

The woman's podium lit up. “Who is Babe Didrikson?”

The third man congratulated her on a correct answer...question...and told her to select again. “I don't understand,” Castiel murmured, shifting to get closer to Jo. “Are they answering questions or asking them?”

“It's backward,” Jo explained, mouth full of more nachos. The plate was more than half empty by now, and Castiel felt a spike of guilt when he noticed a smear of cheese on top of Jo's blanket. “The questions you get are more like statements, and you have to make your answer sound like a question.”

Castiel stared up at the TV. One of the men was giving a non-answer now. “Why is he asking what baseball is?”

“The question was about a book about baseball,” Jo gestured at the TV with one hand while she took a long drink from her root beer with the other. “I never got the whole answer-with-a-question thing either, but it's fun to try to play along. Oh, they're doing proverbs now, I bet you'd be good at that.”

“Do this 'in haste and repeat at leisure',” the host was saying.

Castiel frowned. “Marry?”

“You got it!” Jo cheered, elbowing his arm, while the host was explaining the answer. “Look, that Rick guy didn't know it.”

He studied the game again, barely noticing when Jo tried to shove a nacho into his face. “Feather by feather. The goose is plucked feather by feather.” He took the chip out of her hand and ate it solemnly as the contestant chose the next answer-question.

“In the rhyming proverb, 'what can't be' this 'must be endured'.”

“Cured!” Jo pointed at the TV. “Mom says that all the time. 'What can't be cured must be endured'. And I've got the cast to prove it.”

Almost unconsciously, Castiel glanced down at the hard lump that was Jo's broken leg. Close enough to touch...but he had no power to heal. Not anymore. “Jo, I...”

“Hey,” Jo interrupted, holding her can of root beer out toward him again. “To endurance.”

He let himself smile, tapping his own can against hers. The strength of Jo's spirit was almost magnetic, pulling him back out of his own self-doubts and despair. He'd set out to comfort her...but it seemed like he was the one being comforted.

“To endurance.”

...

(BuckSnort is an actual Idaho-only brand of root beer. I haven't tried it, I just googled it.)

(This is part of the Whumptober 2018 prompts, you can read them here)

[legendofzeldaalinktothepast]

Solar Power 

Fandom: She-Ra (2018) 

Ship: Platonic Scorpia and Entrapta, mentions of romantic Scorpia/Perfuma 

Words: 2204 

Rating: G 

The princesses are having a sleepover, and Scorpia is having trouble fitting in; fortunately, Entrapta understands where she’s coming from. 

Scorpia shoved the window open and took in the fresh, summer night air. 'Breathe, girlie. It's gonna be fine.' she reminded herself, counting her breaths and taking comfort in the silence around her. Just taking a moment to herself immediately brought her anxiety down a few notches -- at least enough to think straight again.

'Ugh... I knew this would happen. Why do you always get so nervous around them? It's not like they're gonna bite you!' she thought, rubbing her face with her claws.

She turned towards the bathroom sink and splashed her face with some cold water, finally grounding herself. 'Alright, Scorpia. You can do this! You're supposed to be the tough girl, and you've handled far worse than a slumber party!' Slicking back her hair, she took one last deep breath and unlocked the bathroom door, heading back towards the main living room. 'Just think of it like the bunks at the horde. It's basically that, but with more perfume and less-ugly pajamas!’ 

The sound of chatter and scent of baking cookies filled the hallway. Excitement rose up in Scorpia's chest; while she was never fond of eating sweets (years of consuming those bland horde rations really screwed with her taste buds), the smell of them was definitely pleasant, even nostalgic in a way.

Once Scorpia reached the living room, she bit her lip; now came the struggle of joining the crowd. Again. 'Ugh, no, don't think of it as a crowd! That's exactly what caused my little meltdown in the first place.' she thought, shaking her head. 'I gotta think of it as... Little clusters. Clusters I can handle.'

And she wasn't wrong; while all of the princesses were hanging out in the same general area, they had also formed smaller, more manageable groups... Catra, Adora, and Glimmer were chatting in the kitchen while the cookies baked. Perfuma and Entrapta were playing a game of chess on the floor nearby. Spinnerella, Netossa, and Frosta were standing by the fireplace, while the youngest of the three loudly told a story, which the married couple listened to with amused expressions. Mermista, an outlier, had fallen asleep on the couch.

'Hmm... which cluster to join...' she thought. In all honesty, Mermista's sounded the most appealing, but just flopping down and falling asleep next to her probably wouldn't make a good impression. Even she knew that. 'Maybe I could listen to whatever story Frosta is telling? That'll give me an excuse not to talk, but at least I'd be part of something!' she thought with a grin. With her goal clear in mind, however, she'd completely forgotten about Entrapta and Perfuma playing chess right in front of her, and ended up stepping on their board.

"Oh, uh, hey, girls!" Scorpia greeted, awkwardly waving a claw. "Sorry about that, I'm such a ditz, heh..."

"That's okay, I'm a ditz too!" Entrapta grinned.

"Neither of you are a ditz! Accidents happen." Perfuma smiled warmly, picking up the chess pieces.

Scorpia's heart fluttered. "S-still, I didn't wanna ruin your game! Here, lemme help." She sat down on the floor beside them, helping place the pieces back on the chess board. "Let's see... This one goes here, I think. Queens go next to the horses, right?" Scorpia said, holding the queen and knight piece in each claw.

"I-it's alright, I mostly remembered where my pieces were!" Perfuma reassured, taking the pieces from Scorpia's claws and placing it back on the board.

"Heh, me too!" Entrapta said, eagerly placing her own pieces back on the black and white tiles.

"Mind if I join the game? I've never played this before!" Scorpia said.

"Oh, unfortunately it's only a two player game..." Perfuma smiled sadly. "But once we're done with this round, you can play against Entrapta!"

"Checkmate! Scorpia's turn!" Entrapta grinned, making her knight piece jump over Perfuma's king.

Perfuma narrowed her eyes. "Did you re-arrange the board in your favor? I am almost positive your knight was not that close to my king."

"Maaaaybe." Entrapta folded her hands politely and tilted her head.

Perfuma rolled her eyes. "Well, it's no big deal," she said with a shrug. "After all, winning isn't everything! What matters is we had fun." She rose to her feet, smoothing out her night gown. "Scorpia, you can take my spot now! I think I'll get myself some tea."

"Thanks, flowergirl." Scorpia said with a wink. Perfuma rose to her feet, and Scorpia scooted over to where she'd been sitting. As she set the chess pieces back to their original places (or well... to the best of her ability. She really had no idea how this worked), she found her gaze shifting back and forth towards Perfuma, even long after she'd headed into the kitchen.

Entrapta gave Scorpia a nudge with her pigtail, causing her to jump. "Do you want me to tell you the rules?" she asked.

"Oh, uh... Nope, I'm good." she said, too ashamed to admit she had no idea how to play chess.

Entrapta cackled. "That's good, because I didn't want to! Chess is soo boring, but Perfuma really wanted to play it, and it only felt fair since she's been listening to me tell her about my newest robot all night -- her name is Sandra, you should meet her! But anyway, let's play something else!"

Scorpia didn't respond; her gaze was still cast towards the kitchen, and anxiety still lingered in her chest. It took her a moment to even process Entrapta's suggestion. "Oh! Uh, sure! What kind of game?"

Entrapta cupped Scorpia's face. "First, let's play a game called 'Tell Entrapta Why The Heck You're So Nervous Right Now'."

Scorpia burst into laughter; for the first time that night, she'd begun to loosen up a bit. "Oh, I dunno, just... I guess just. I've never been really good at these kinds of things, ya know?"

"Oh, I totally know!" Entrapta nodded. "Like, the whole... People thing. Especially when it's other princesses." She blushed a little.

Scorpia smiled. "Yeah... I'm glad at least someone does." she sighed. "I mean, don't get me wrong, it's a lot of fun, and I'm glad I was invited! But... When everyone seems to fall into their little groups, and it gets loud and overwhelming... I dunno, I just feel so wrong, like I shouldn't be here."

"Ohh..." Entrapta said, tapping her chin. "Hey, you wanna go outside?"

"Uh, sure! What are we gonna do?" Scorpia asked, confused by the sudden shift in topic.

"Follow me." Entrapta said, and before Scorpia could question any further, she lifted herself up by her pigtails and scurried towards the door. Scorpia hauled herself up to her feet, glancing back one last time -- Perfuma had permanently joined the kitchen cluster, and Spinerella glanced Scorpia's way for a mere split second before turning back to Frosta -- and then continued out the door.

For a moment, she'd wondered if Entrapta had just up and vanished -- but soon enough she spotted her, sitting on the branch of a nearby tree. How she'd gotten up there so quickly was beyond Scorpia. She approached her with an amused expression on her face. "Whoa... You sure know how to climb."

Entrapta giggled. "Yeah, come on up! It's nice up here!"

"Ah, but... I'm a little heavier than you are, are you sure it's safe?" she asked; even with a body as tiny as Entrapta's, the branch seemed to be bending ever so slightly beneath her weight.

"Well... I could take some of the tools out of my pockets!" Entrapta said. At first, Scorpia thought the idea was absurd... but then she began pulling wrenches out of her pockets, one by one, and for a moment Scorpia thought it would go on forever... But soon enough, there was a pile of wrenches and various tools on the ground that probably weighed even more than Scorpia. How Entrapta had managed to fit all of those in her pockets was beyond her.

"There we go! Now it should be safe for you to join." Entrapta smiled.

"Heh, I guess I can't say no, now." With a grunt, she lifted herself up onto the branch of the tree, seating herself beside Entrapta. It took herself a moment to balance properly -- what she had in strength, she lacked in grace... But at least it wasn't too high, so if she fell, she'd get a couple bruises if she was unlucky.

"You ever hear of solar powered technology?" Entrapta asked, tilting her head.

"Yeah! That's stuff powered by the sun, right?" Scorpia said.

"Correct!" Entrapta said. "Like, one time I made a solar powered robot, and when I forgot to charge her battery, she had a lot of trouble functioning at night, or on super cloudy days... But when I do remember to let her charge in the mornings, she's able to do the most amazing things!" Entrapta flapped her hands. "Her name's Sandra!"

"Oh right, you mentioned her earlier!" Scorpia said, though she wasn't quite sure where Entrapta was going with this.

"Yeah! I think you'd love to meet her." Entrapta said. "Anyway, there was a reason I brought this up... Oh, right! Well, sometimes I'm kinda like Sandra. If I don't take some time to charge myself up -- in this case, just sitting somewhere quiet, maybe even twirling a wrench around -- and I go into a place with lots of people and noise, I kinda just break down, like Sandra! So that's why I always make sure to find some kinda quiet place when I go to sleepovers. Usually I just climb around in the vents, but I had a feeling that wouldn't be your thing, so that's why we're outside!"

"Oh, I know what you mean" Scorpia brightened up. "That's really nice of you. I tried doing a little recharging in the bathroom, but... Then I started worrying people would think I was sick, so I headed out before I was actually... You know, ready." She sighed, leaning her head against the trunk of the tree. "Like, I really do love being with the girls, but... They're so hard to connect with sometimes, and it gets noisy with all the talking and music and smells of perfume and food... None of which are bad, by the way! It's just... too much at once. Especially when Perfuma's around, I mean..." Scorpia blushed, not sure if she wanted to elaborate.

Entrapta scooted a little closer to Scorpia. "No wonder you looked like you weren't having fun. You weren't ready to come hang out with people. And what's Perfuma have to do with it?"

Scorpia blushed. "Ugh, she's just... Really pretty, you know? And I'm not really sure where we stand..."

"Is Perfuma your girlfriend?" Entrapta asked.

"Mmmmmaybe." Scorpia turned her head to the side. "Kind of? I don't know. Ugh, but she's so outgoing and extroverted and good with people, and I kinda worry that I'm getting ahead of myself and that I'll look like an idiot if I assume she is, and it turns out she doesn't feel the same..."

"You'll probably look like an idiot either way." Entrapta shrugged. "But if you are dating, and you assume you're not, that'll probably hurt her feelings. So it’s better to assume that you are. I mean, I'd be flattered if you assumed you were my girlfriend, even if I see our relationship as more platonic."

Scorpia chuckled. "Guess you're right about that." she said with a sigh. "You're a really good friend, you know?"

Entrapta blushed. "Thanks... I've been trying really hard lately, and well... Sometimes people still think I'm a bad friend."

"Hey, I think they just don't really get you." Scorpia shrugged. "But I do, because I'm the same way."

Entrapta flapped her hands. "Yes! That's very true! Our brains were wired in similar ways, so it only makes sense that you'd get me!" she said. "But you know what? That doesn't mean the other princesses won't like you! And that doesn't mean Perfuma doesn't, either. Like, it was really hard for me to get along with Perfuma too, but now I play chess with her, and she asks me questions about robots!"

"Yeah, I guess that's true." Scorpia smiled. "Thanks for letting me talk this out with you, girlie. I'm feeling a lot better, now..."

Just then, the door behind them swung open. "Hey, dweebs!" Frosta called from the castle, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Karaoke starts in five minutes, so ya better get your butts in here if you wanna sing!"

Scorpia brightened up immediately. "I'll be right there!" she called. "You coming, Entrapta?"

"Mm, need a few more minutes to recharge..." Entrapta said, kicking her legs. "But you can go in without me! I'll probably be able to listen from out here, anyway."

"Hah, that's true! Especially when I'm the one singing." Scorpia climbed back down from the tree and landed on her toes. "See ya in a bit!"

"See ya!"

Once Scorpia was back inside the castle, Entrapta turned her gaze back up towards the full moon. "Hmm... I wonder if I could make a solar and lunar powered robot..." she mused to nobody in particular, reaching down with her pigtail arm and retrieving one of her wrenches from the grass.

[saramelcky]

Fragments - Chapter 3

Bucky Barnes x Mom!reader

Summary: Y/n, Bucky and Grace have breakfast together. Bucky opens up more about what he’s going through, so does Y/n.

Word count: 2.3k

Chapter Warnings: Feelings. A little bit of angst. Some bad words maybe.

A/N: I’m back! Well, I don’t know if I will stay active for long but at least I finished this chapter...it took me soooo long. I hope you will like it and I hope I will be able to write the next one ASAP! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

Fragments Masterlist

'We'll be there in ten minutes' says the message Y/n has sent to bucky. It's been fifteen actually, sixteen minutes since that message and Bucky's leg can't stop hopping up and down under the white table of the cafeteria. He puts his left hand on it trying to stop the movement with no success. The door opens catching his attention: Y/n and her little girl are standing there looking for Bucky in the crowded local; when Grace sees the man she can't stop a joyful scream while running towards him to hug him.

"Hey, little girl!" Says Bucky "how's it going?" He asks.  "I'm not little! I'm a big girl" she corrects him. Y/n giggles sitting at the table only moments later. "Hey Bucky, I'm sorry we're late" She apologies to him. "Oh don't be, I was just a little worried, but that's on my anxiety" he giggles the stress away. "I'll send you more texts next time" she laughs lightly.  "It...seems fair" he adds forgetting the previous stress. "You know I colored a picture yesterday, Bucket!" The little girl cuts their laughing off by tugging Bucky's sleeve. "Oh really? What was it?" He asks while Grace climbs up to his lap. "It was me and the big dog from the park hugging like you and mommy did yesterday" the two adults cheeks burn to the ears. "Okay sweetheart, what do you want for breakfast?" Y/n tries to change the subject.  "Coffee!" the girl says joyfully.  "Grace, coffee is for grownups. Like mommy and Bucky. Would you like some milk and brownies?" Her mom smirks at her trying to convince her. "Mommy, I'm a big girl now" She pouts. Bucky whispers something to the little's ear and her eyes widen in joy hugging the man's chest tightly. Y/n is confused and watches him baffled. He nods his head letting her know everything is under control while a waitress picks up their order.

While waiting for their food, the tension starts growing and Grace is not helping anymore with the conversation as she plays with the plates of Bucky's arm. "So, Uhm, about the prosthetic, you wanted to talk about it, didn't you?" Y/n asks.  "Yes, it's about the funds" he says. "Oh, is there a problem?" She's concerned and starts picking at her nails.  "Well, not a problem but a change" he sighs "Grace won't be in Stark's project, it wouldn't be fair to those who were previously chosen, but she'll still have her arm, I will personally pay it since I broke it." Y/n was speechless, a mix of thankfulness for the kind act and stubborn pride that doesn't want him to pay for everything. "I...I don't know what to say" are the only words that escape her mouth. She tries to cover her tears flowing with a smile. "Hey hey, it's okay" Bucky says putting a hand on her shoulder. "Is mommy sad?" Grace asked. "No honey...mommy's really happy" Y/n says wiping off the salty drops "really happy" she repeats. As the food arrives, Grace gets off Bucky's lap and sits between the adults devouring her breakfast in a second. "Mommy I finished" she turns to bucky and he nods. "Bucket told me that to be a big girl I have to listen to you" Y/n nods. "I ate everything so I am a real big girl now" Y/n still nods while Bucky looks at Grace intrigued. "Can I drink your coffee, please?" Grace asks with the most joyful smile of all. Bucky burst into laughs and Y/n is taken back. "So that was what you secretly talked about uh" Y/n smiles "Oh no no" Bucky corrects her "I just told her to be good, the coffee part is completely hers". They both laugh while Grace, in all seriousness, continues to talk about how she deserves that coffee "I'm sorry Bucky, today she woke up with this thing of being a big girl, she just doesn't stop saying she is an adult and stuff like that" she smiles at him "Oh that's not a problem, I lived with the most stubborn boy in Brooklyn eighty years ago, I know how it feels like" he giggles "Well, you weren't Steve's mom, poor woman" Y/n says still smiling while Bucky, at Steve and Sarah's mention, suddenly loses his joy. "Uhm yeah, It felt like it before...before everything happened" he struggles to say the entire sentence without crying. Y/n notices the weird uneasiness and the sad tone in his voice. "Hey, do you want to talk about it?" She suggests. "I don't want to ruin your morning, the baby doesn't need to hear about my messy mind and I bet you have more important things to do" he stares at his hands without looking up to them. "Okay, I'll call this friend of mine so she will pick up Grace to my apartment and we can stay here and talk" she dials Lucy's number on her phone "or we can go everywhere else, just as you like" she says. "Thanks, but I don't want to pity you" he responds. "You are not pitying me, I'll talk about my messy life too if this helps you" she gives him a wide smile before calling her friend.

"Thank you so much, Lucy" Y/n said. "No problem" she nudges her "just...use protections" she winks and laughs Y/n sighs "I'll call you when I'm on my way home" she turns to Grace "Alright princess, say goodbye to Bucky, aunt Lucy will stay with you" she smiles at her baby "Bucket I'll miss you" the little girl pouts "Oh no, come give me a hug" Bucky melts in the little arms "I'll see you next week, little one" he kisses her little head "Bye Mommy" Grace waves at Y/n trough Lucy's car window.

Y/n returns in the cafè and sits back with Bucky. "Uhg, how can you be so calm without her" he says. She arches a brow at him, asking an explanation . "She's gone for 5 minutes and I can only think about how bad I want a little hug from her...God I sound so creepy" he mumbles. "Oh, I'm just pretending to be calm" she nervously laughs "it's been almost 5 years but I can't stand being far from her for too long. Please distract me from my cute daughter" they both bursts into laughs. "It's been a lot since I've laughed like this" he looks sad now "I feel like back in the 30s once again" he sadly scoffs. Y/n puts a hand on his left shoulder. "Do you miss him?" She asks. "Like fresh air. I just don't understand why he did that" he shakes his head. "Do you mean why he sacrificed for us?" She giggles "I mean, it's kinda obvious why..." she adds furrowing her brows. "Is that what you know?" He's shocked "you think he sacrificed? Oh wow" he laughs sarcastically "I've seen it on the news...he died with Ironman, didn't he?" She asks. Bucky can't hold himself by facepalming. "God no...this must remain between us, understood?" Y/n nods. "Uhm, first of all, Steve lived through Thanos okay? After Stark's funeral he had to do one last mission in the past, yeah we can time travel, I think... by the way, before this mission he told me that he wasn't coming back, that I should have moved on quickly and that Sam and the others would be with me if I needed. He...he completed the mission and after that, he went in the 40s and lived his life with Peggy Carter...they were a thing at that time and he never stopped loving her. Steve's still alive, he's really old but alive. I know Sam visits him once a week but...I can't. I feel like he abandoned me...he knew where HYDRA kept me but he did nothing to save me" finally, he lets out everything and cries all his emotions. Y/n embraces him, protecting him from something they didn't know "I'm sorry...I think I can understand what do you mean, sort of" she says "How?" He asks "Has your best friend left you after a century of friendship?" He adds laughing tauntingly.  "No, but I know how it feels being abandoned" she leaves a shaky breath. "Do you want to talk about it?" He asks wiping his tears. Y/n nods. "In 2018, before the Thanos things, I was happily married, I was nailing it with work, everything was just perfect. My husband, ex-husband's name is Jacob. I still love him with all my heart even if he doesn't anymore. At that time we were trying to have a baby, we wanted a big family with lots of kids so here comes Grace. The day I found out I was pregnant, you were in Wakanda, fighting for us. I didn't have the time to tell me about the baby. I was destroyed by his death and had a little pregnancy scare because of the stress. But everything else went well during the pregnancy and Grace was born healthy and even bigger than the average. During the pregnancy and labor, it was only me and Lucy, she's been my anchor many times. I had bad baby blues and I was diagnosed with post-partum depression and it didn't help with the special needs that had Grace. It was probably the worst time of my life. I eventually got through it and moved on, I even dated once when Grace was almost three" she laughed" The final punch arrived when you guys saved the universe and Jacob came back. I was the happiest person alive and Grace wanted to meet her dad so much. He wasn't that happy tho. When he saw Grace he was, of course, confused but he didn't believe she was his. He left us and didn't come back since. I...I didn't take well that too and to be honest, when we've met, it was the first time I went out in weeks. It's been a rough time lately" she sighs "I don't even know how I wake up every day now...I have the fear that Grace is growing more without me than with me, and this is fucking scary. I should be her reference point, I'm her mother for Christ's sake! All I can do is pitying myself, crying and staying alone! And now that I've met you, I feel like I don't deserve to feel bad, others suffer more than me." She covers her face putting it on the table in front of them "I didn't want to cry today but it's harder than I thought" she huffs and cries. Bucky gently kisses her head while soothing her sobs with a hand in the back before becoming a wiping mess himself.

"It felt good today, talking with you, you know?" He says outside her house. He accompanied her home after they recover from the public crying session. "Me too, we should talk more often" she giggles. "Are you free next week?" He asks. She feels heat rising up her face and a knot in the stomach. "Uhm yeah, I think I am" They stare at each other for a while. "I think I might head in" she breaks the silence "Oh yeah of course. Thanks again Y/n" he leans to hug her "Thank you Bucket" she highlights his name in his arms He laughs "you should teach that baby how to say my name" they pull off the embrace. "Send me a text when you're home" she goes to the front door "Ok! Have a nice rest of the day doll" he says before leaving "Thanks, you too" she enters the house.

"Mommy! You're back" Grace jumps in her arms. "Where is aunt Lucy?" Y/n asks her daughter "She's in the kitchen. It's lunchtime!" The baby says happily.  Y/n picks up her baby girl and goes to the kitchen. "Hey Lucy, I'm back" she greets her friend "Hey mama, how was your date?" Lucy smirks at her friend "It was not a date, come on" Y/n laughs. "Mommy, what's a date?" Grace asks. "It's when two people hang out, they go to the restaurant, the cinema or the park sometimes" she answers "Like us when we play at the park?" The girl asks again "Grace, baby, a date is between two people that like each other okay? It's special and you should not date every boy or girl that asks you okay?" Lucy explained "So Mommy and Bucket are special?" She asks "No, Bucky and I are not special because it wasn't a date!" Y/n is almost annoyed. "I want to be special to Bucket! I like him" Grace shouts giggling You all laugh when your phone buzzes, you take it out. When you read the name on it your smile fades away. Lucy notices it. "What happened?" The friend questions "I need to pick this up, it's Jacob" Y/n sits Grace on the counter and goes to her room.

"Hello?" "Hey, um, it's me. It's Jacob" he responds. "What do you want?" She says harshly. "I think I've made a mistake. I talked to some people and...Christ, I was confused, I still am...but I believe you, and I want to be in our daughter's life" As he says that you receive a message, probably from Bucky. "I can't suffer anymore, and I don't want to let Grace suffer too...I don't know if I can do this" she breathes shakily "Please, I still love you, but I understand if in the meantime you found someone else, I just wanna do the right thing for her" he pleads while a sob escapes her mouth. "Let me think about it okay?" She sniffles "I'll let you know when I'm ready" she continues "Fine... You don't have to answer this...but today I saw you with a guy...is he...Uhm are you together?" He asks "It's not your business, Jacob" she is angry now. "He's dangerous, babe, he's the Winter Soldier" he says preoccupied "And you're an asshole, Bucky is not my boyfriend, and even if he was, or will ever be, it's none. of. your. goddamn. business!" Y/n hangs up and throws the phone on the bed, forgetting the message.

Taglist still open:

@capandbuckylvr​ @queen-of-elves @dark-night-sky-99 @chubby-dumplin @archangelslollipop

[adrenaline-roulette]

It’s strange but it’s true

Okay, so this was my first Brian x Reader fic, and my overall first ever Queen fic too! It was written over Christmas of 2018, and since then, I’ve fallen down one hell of a Queen rabbit hole!

Word count: 3k +

One week ago

This had all been Roger’s idea, you had made a passing comment to him in the recording studio a couple of weeks ago, mentioning how you and Brian hadn’t had much of a chance to spend any time together, at least not longer than five minutes alone. He would come home from the studio in the early hours of the morning, waking you up as he crawled into bed beside you. In the mornings, you would be up before him and out to work just as he was waking up. It almost felt more like having a roommate, over a boyfriend!

“Don’t worry love, he’ll be free again soon. We’ve got it planned so we have a break between recording, and then touring again! But if you want, why don’t you drop by next week while we’re filming the video for I want to break free?” He suggested, a mischievous glint in his baby blues, though you decided it best not to dwell on the look.

“That sounds amazing! Brian won’t tell me anything much about the video, top secret he says. The mystery is killing me!” You muse, which only causes Roger to smirk.

“Don’t you worry Y/N, you’ll love it! You know how Brian gets when we’re recording, it’s all about the music.”

                                                                                *****

You could hardly contain your excitement as you walked through the parking lot leading towards Limehouse studios. You had managed to secure a car spot a fair distance away from the actual studio, though the warm spring day made for a pleasant walk towards the large building. The grin that was plastered on your face remained as you flashed your guest pass to the security guard at the entrance, who smiled and nodded you in the direction of the reception desk. A young woman, with brunette hair sat at the circular desk, a blush across her cheeks and neck, you could only assume this was Roger’s doing.

“Hello, I’m Y/N, I’m here to visit Queen.” You smiled, as the young woman acknowledged you.

“Of course, they’re in studio three. If the light above the door is red, that means that they’re filming, so just wait until the light is green and then you can go in.” She explained, as you nodded your understanding. Bidding her farewell, you made your way down the corridor until you found a set of double doors, with a large number three painted next to them. Casting your gaze up, you spot the light you had been told about illuminated with a green glow, with a pleased hum you push the doors open and walk in.

Looking around, you try to spot anyone you knew, Roger, John, and Freddie all knew you would be there today, and you had somewhat expected at least one of them to greet you and bring you to Brian. Though as you look around, all you see are strangers.

Stepping further into the studio, your attention is drawn to the scene set up on the stage, it looks like a typical living room. A plush brown sofa, set in front of a stair case, and then to the right on a separate section of the stage there is what appears to be a kitchen set up, complete with pantry and sink. “What on Earth are these boys doing?” You breath out, it was an odd set up, though at this stage of knowing the boys, you had given up in trying to figure out what they were doing. You had learnt that lesson after questioning Freddie over the meaning of Bohemian Rhapsody. Despite it now being one of your favourite songs they had released so far, at the beginning you were rather sceptical.

   “Oi Y/N!”

You whirl around on the spot, trying to see who would have called out for you, though you can’t see anyone you recognize, or who would recognize you.

“Y/N! Over here!”

You hear again, this time however you spot someone beckoning you over with a wave of their arm. A blonde woman, wearing bows in her hair, a school uniform, complete with pink and yellow neck tie, and white knee length socks stands by a closed door, and oddly familiar smirk on her lips.  A confused frown crosses your features as you head towards the woman cautiously, as you get closer though you find yourself beginning to recognize who she is. By the time you’re face to face with the school girl, you have an eyebrow raised, and your arms crossed over your chest.

“Roger…. What the actual fuck are you wearing right now?” You groan out, you are definitely not drunk enough to deal with Roger in drag right now.

“Oh, this old thing?” He offers, a sultry pout on his pink lips, as he lifts the tie from his padded chest. “Just a little something I had lying around. Why? Would you like to borrow it some time? You know how much Brian loves school…”  He winks at you and you find yourself blushing at the thought.

“You’re a horny idiot Rog.” You mutter with a shake of your head. Which only causes him to grin.

“Yeah, but you’re used to it by now! Now come with me, I have two people very eager to see you, and one who will be when he knows you’re here! We’ve got to start filming soon, once Freddie is ready, but it shouldn’t take too long!” He babbles, as he links his arm through yours and drags you through a door marked as ‘dressing room’. He kicks the door closed b­­­ehind him, humming along to the music that seems to be constantly playing in his head. “We have company!” He suddenly announces, and you stand in the doorway, causing three sets of eyes to fall on you.

You can’t help it, you want to play it cool, you truly do, but it’s nearly impossible. Freddie is sitting on a bench with his legs crossed, wearing black heels, stocking, and black miniskirt, pale pink shirt, and a wig, with his moustache on full display, along with an overly stuffed bra.

John is on the sofa in the corner of the room, strumming his bass, a silver curled wig hidden beneath a black bucket hat, pearl earrings clipped onto his lobes, and a long black woollen coat covering his body. He’s not as well endowed as Freddie, but he too has some padding.

And then there’s Brian, who until you had walked in, was tuning The Red Special, though had nearly dropped the poor thing when he saw you. His glorious curls were rolled up in hair rollers of multiple colours, a satin pink night gown draped over his tall lean frame, striped socks and fluffy bunny slippers on his feet. He was looking directly at you, mouth agape and hazel eyes piercing into yours.

“Darling! How wonderful of you to join us!” Freddie exclaims as he leaps off the bench, sashaying his was towards you, before wrapping you in a warm hug, which you eagerly reciprocated, laughing deeply into his shoulder at the scene you had just walked into. “Rog, go fix your socks, you look a mess!” He chuckles, once you release each other, shooing Roger away over your shoulder.

You wave over at John, who’s grinning at the shocked expression that seems to be frozen on Brian’s face. “Hi Deaky, the pearls suit you.” You tease, though you know he won’t take any offence to your comments.

“Hey Y/N, I had to threaten Freddie with Bodily harm to stop him from actually piercing me.” He smirks, and you can’t quite tell if he’s joking or not.

  You turn your attention to Brian, who still hadn’t moved, or spoken yet, “Hey…” You smile softly, allowing Freddie and Roger to bicker in the background. It feels like forever since you had last seen Brian, and you couldn’t care less that he was currently dressed as a woman, though you would have preferred something a little different, he was here and so were you, and that’s all that could possibly matter to you.

“Hi love. This is a bit of a surprise.” He blushes, before looking up at you sharply. “A nice surprise! I just wasn’t expecting to see you!” The words tumble from his lips, and you can’t help but chuckle at his rambling. Your hand lifts towards his face, and you brush your knuckles against his jaw.

“This is a good look for you, something from your personal collection?” You smirk, as he lifts an eyebrow at you, a groan escaping his parted lips.

“Yes, you caught me. This is what I wear whenever you’re out of the house.”

“He puts it on the minute we finish a show too!” Bellows Roger, who as you turn to look at him, has Freddie kneeling in front of him adjusting his socks.

“He takes forever in the tour bus bathroom too, takes him at least an hour to get all those hair rollers in!” Chimes in John, who had moved from the sofa and was biting into an apple by the minifridge.

Brian flops his head down, his chin resting atop your hair. “Make them stop! They’ve been teasing each other relentlessly since we got into costume.” He groans, before pressing a soft kiss to your scalp.

You wrap your arms around his waist, nudging your head up until Brian lifts his chin, and is again looking down at you. “I’ve missed this, being able to be in the same room as you for longer than five minutes. And you, I’ve missed you too of course.” There’s a moment where you’re both just looking at each other, nothing else around you matters, and you find yourselves wishing that this moment would last forever.

“When were you planning on telling me about this?” You ask, to which Brian raises a quizzical eyebrow. “The whole, drag thing! I mean, were you just going to wait and see if I ever found out, hoping that I wouldn’t?” You laugh, and he rolls his eyes.

“I wasn’t entirely sure how to phrase it, Hey Y/N, our new video has us dressing in drag! Though I would like to point out that this was all Roger’s idea.” He laughs.

“You all said it sounded like fun when I suggested it!” Roger cries.

“We were all drunk when you suggested it! You could have said we should film in black and white with a penguin and we would’ve said it sounded great!” Brian rebuts. He grins down at you, tightening his arms around your waist, to keep you securely by his side.

A loud knock on the door startles you both, and you practically jump apart. The door swings open, and a middle-aged man walks in, “Alright lads, we need you on set now.” He announces, before pivoting and walking out.

“That’s our cue. The sooner we get this started, the sooner we can leave.” Brian sighs, as he leans down and presses a kiss to your lips. He’s so soft and gentle with you, though the slight pressure behind the kiss reminds you of just what he would be doing to you if he wasn’t needed elsewhere. Freddie steps up behind Brian and grabs his hand before dragging him away from you.

“Come watch if you’d like?” Freddie calls over his shoulder, as you stand in the middle of the room, disappointment filling you from lack of a more passionate kiss.

With a shrug, you follow Roger out of the dressing room, and back into the main studio. Crew are running backwards and forwards, making sure everything is perfect for the shoot. John is sat on the sofa reading a newspaper, a woman readjusting his hat to make sure he looks perfect. Freddie is hidden away in the kitchen set, being handed a vacuum while Roger stands at the sink with his back to the door, and Brian has disappeared up the stairs, doing who knows what!

 “Quiet on set! We start it three… two…” The director calls, and mouths out one, when the cameras begin rolling. The music kicks in, a familiar tune you had heard over and over again in the recording studio for weeks now. The drum beat begins, and then Freddie appears, moving the vacuum back and forth in time to the beat, strutting around in his glorious costume. Next comes Brian rushing down the stairs as John peers over the top of his newspaper, before settling himself more comfortably on the sofa. Brian races into the kitchen, and then there’s Roger rocking his hips in time to the music. However it’s the moment Freddie opens his lips to start singing, that you lose it, stifling your laughter behind your hand. One of the crew turns to look at you, offering a sympathetic smile, and you look away, trying desperately not to make a sound. It proves to be nearly impossible and you soon make your way back into the dressing room, settling yourself down on the sofa and soon falling asleep. Dreams of men in drag filling your head.

                                                                                *****

You have no way of telling how long you had been asleep for, though you find yourself being woken up by a gentle hand brushing through your hair. You stretch your arms out, feeling your shoulder blades pop from the cramped position you had slept in.

“Y/N… It’s time to leave.” Brian’s gentle voice breezes past your ear, and you shudder, blinking your eyes open, and searching for him. “Hey, let’s go home yeah?” He offers as your eyes meet his, as he kneels beside your head, his slender fingers brushing through your hair, gently pulling at a knot for you.

“That sounds amazing.” You grin, as you look at him properly now. His hair was out of its rollers and once again flowing in its tight ringlets down his shoulders, and the nightgown had been replaced with jeans and a navy blue button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Sitting up, you push yourself up off the sofa, taking his outstretched hand once you are both standing. “Have the others left already?” You yawn, as the two of you make your way out of the studio, hand in hand.

“Only just, Deaky said something about cooking dinner for Veronica, I think Freddie is going out again, and Roger is doing something with Dominique… He wouldn’t go into any details, which is worrisome.” He laughs, as you make it to the parking lot, the warm day having turned to a cool evening. “Where did you park? I’ll drive us home.” He offers, as you lead him towards the back of the lot, to your car. Brian had arrived with Roger this morning to the studio, so now with Roger gone, it only made sense for the two of you to travel together.

The drive home only took fifteen minutes, the traffic being relatively quiet for the late hour, and as you both walked up the gravel driveway towards your shared house Brian hummed the tune to ’39, his arm wrapped around your shoulder. “You know, I’ve always loved that song.” You smile, as you kick off your shoes once inside the house.

Brian chuckles, following your lead and removing his shoes also. “And what makes you love it? Could it be because I wrote it? Or because I sing it?”

You roll your eyes up at him, wrapping your arms around his neck, stepping him backwards until his back hits the door. “You know I love your voice.” You breath out, pressing your fingertips to his scalp, massaging gently as he leans into your touch. “And your hair, your hands, your lips, I love everything about you.”

The smile which illuminates his face is angelic, and you feel a sense of pride over the fact that only you can make him look that way. “I love you Y/N, more than anything else in the galaxy.” He whispers, before bringing his lips down to yours. There’s a passion deep within the two of you, one that had been boiling to the surface over these past few weeks, due to the limited contact. The kiss starts gently, noses bumping against one another, hands trailing along the others body as if they were just discovering each other for the first time.  Without any warning, Brian lifts you up, instantly you wrap your legs around his waist, securing your arms around his neck as he walks you to the bedroom, his lips never leaving yours. Carefully he places you on the soft mattress, hovering above you as if you were his prey. He trails his hands down your waist, hooking his thumbs through the belt loops on your jeans, rubbing small circles on your hips, watching as goose pimples form along your arms. His fingers move to the button and zipper on your pants, agonisingly slowly he undoes the fastenings, before pulling the pants down your legs. He grins as your legs are exposed to him, grabbing the hem of your shirt, and rolling it up your stomach. You lift your arms and raise your back off the bed, as he pulls the fabric over your head.

“You’re stunning.” He murmurs, as he looks over you in just your underwear. “How could I be so lucky?” He’s leaning over you again, lips trailing down your chest, to your stomach, causing you to squirm slightly.

“You’re wearing clothes still.” You pout, causing Brian to look up from where he was kissing along your hip bone. He almost looks feral from what you can see of him, his hair tangled in odd directions from where you had messed it up with your fingers, and there’s a hungry gleam in his eyes, he’s hungry for you. In an instant, he’s stood up at the foot of the bed and almost frantically undoing his own jeans, shimmying them down to his feet, before kicking them away into the corner of the room. Next, he makes quick work of unbuttoning the first three buttons on his shirt, before stripping it off over his head, and tossing it in the same general direction as his jeans.  You watch as he pounces back over you, sliding his fingers into the waistband of your panties, and slipping them down your thighs just as he had with your jeans moments ago. Your breath hitches in your throat as you feel the cool air against your naked sex, a shudder rippling down your spine. Reaching up, you snap the band on his boxers, a slight groan leaving his parted lips as you do so, and you grin at his reaction. You slide his boxers down, just as he wraps his arms around you, unclasping your bra with practised precision. Both garments are strewn to the side, a light thud informing you that something had been knocked to the ground, a problem for later however.

“I love you, so much. You’re my world Y/N.” Brian whispers, as his lips meet yours once again, no longer gentle like he had been earlier, your desire is at the surface now, passion growing as your tongues explore the others mouth, teeth and noses bumping against the others as your hands grip any available body part they can reach. His hands are planted firmly beside your head now, as he looms above you, smiling down at your breathless form.

“Stay with me forever.” You plead, as he positions himself at your entrance. Your palm is cupping his cheek as you watch each other, both waiting for him to make the next move. You gasp as he pushes into you, as gently as he can, despite how eager he is. You hook your legs around his waist, pulling his body closer to yours, as he pushes his entire length inside you. You bite down on your lip to prevent yourself from moaning, not wanting to give away just how close you already were, given how long it had been since this level on intimacy. He’s watching you again you notice when you look up, he’s checking to see if you’re ready for him, and all you can do is smile. He leans his head down, his hair tickling your bare chest as his begins thrusting into you. You know each other well, and it doesn’t take long until you’re matching thrust for thrust. Your hips roll against his, both of you moaning at the delightful sensations of being together once more, you’re kissing along his neck as you move together in perfect sync, he thrust up hard into you, and you cry out in bliss, before sucking down hard on his neck, kissing and swirling your tongue as you make sure to mark him proudly as yours. He’s moaning your name as you do so, moving one hand down to cup your breast, while the other supports his weight above you. His fingers are calloused from always strumming his guitar, but you love the sensation of his rough fingertips tweaking your nipple. His hands are warm over your breast, and it feels divine!

He’s grunting deeply now, while your moaning is becoming more frequent, neither of you will last much longer. “Never…. I’ll never leave you Y/N.” He suddenly replies, as if he only now realised you had spoken earlier.

“Fuck, Bri I’m gonna cum!” You cry out, as you feel your body boiling closer to release. His thrusting increases its tempo, and you know he’s close too. Your sex is clamping down on his length when you feel him spill into you, white hot pleasure seeping deep within you from his release as you join him in total bliss. Ecstasy fill your mind as he collapses on top of you, blindly pressing his lips to the corner of your mouth as you both ride out your pleasure.

It takes you both a few minutes to come back down to earth, and Brian carefully removes himself from you, before rolling onto his side and wrapping his arms around you. His nose nuzzles your neck, kissing you softly as your breathing becomes normal again. “God I’ve missed you.” He mumbles, as he draws small circles against your stomach.

You turn your head slightly to see him behind you, and he peers over your shoulder at you. “Do we need to schedule in a part two into your diary?” You grin, placing your hands on top of his on your stomach.

“I think I can fit you in tomorrow morning actually.”

You blink at him, shock evident on your face. “But you’ve still got the music video to film?”

“They can do without me for a few hours. You’re my priority right now. Besides, Roger kept laughing through his takes, so they’ll need to redo most of his scenes first.” Brian chuckles, as he pulls the bed sheet up and over your naked bodies.

You turn in his arms, burrowing your head beneath his chin, allowing your hair to get in his way for a change. “I love you Bri.” You whisper, as sleep slowly over takes you, your eyelids growing heavy.

“Love you more.”  You hear just as your world goes black with sleep.

My Masterlist

[geneticmisfit]

TIMELINE. 

HIGH SCHOOL:

Freshman Year

-DECEMBER OF 2015 -Gains his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider during a class trip to Doctor Curt Connors’ lab in Empire State University. -Spends the Christmas Break discovering and learning about his abilities, makes his First Suit out of some old pajamas.

-JANUARY 2016

-Being a kid and wanting to make a quick buck with his abilities, he enters a wrestling competition against Crusher Hogan.

-It’s the classic wrestling origin. Peter gets swindled out of money, a burglar steals money from the fight manager, Peter lets the Burglar go out of anger and spite for the manager. -Uncle Ben is murdered, Peter goes after the assailant and is horrified to discover it is the same Burglar he had let go earlier. -When you do the things that I can, but you don’t, and then the bad things happen, they happen because of you. -Guilt stricken, he realizes the importance of Power and Responsibility and starts to fight crime, initially stopping small crimes, petty robberies, etc.

MARCH TO JUNE 2016:

-Rumors of an Insectoid-Man spread quickly throughout the underworld, it is initially believed to be a Lie made by crooks who want to dodge blame, but more and more YouTube videos of a man in a red and blue pajamas doing extraordinary feats quickly kills that possibility. -At the recommendation of his teachers, Peter starts interning at Connors’ Lab in ESU, it allows him to get a closer look at the kind of spiders that bit him, and leads him to discover that the irradiated spiders are a project Connors is working on under the funding of Oscorp. -During his crime fighting, he unknowingly halts several of The Big Man’s jobs. -Frequently swings into and stops the crimes of Alex O’Hirn and Flint Marko. -He runs into his first Out of the Ordinary Bad Guy when he ends up fighting Stilt-Man, instead of going for his legs he just punches him out cold.

CIVIL WAR INCIDENT - JUNE 26TH 2016

This is where the first of the several big canon rewrites comes in. For starters, the Airport Fight happens in New York instead of Germany, and Tony does not recruit Peter for his cause or give him the new suit. What happens is as follows,

-Peter sees the news of The Winter Soldier’s attack on United Nations. ( For the purposes of this rewrite, let’s say Bucky gets extradited to the U.S. for interrogation and trial and he is held in the same SHIELD base Steve woke up from his coma or whatever ) -Peter and Ned argue about Spider-Man not going for Stilt-Man’s legs during their fight. -Hearing the news of JFK suddenly closing down and rumors of people spotting ‘Very Serious Government People’ , Peter puts the two and two together and leaves abruptly, heading to the Airport in hopes of ‘Auditioning’ for the Avengers, because that’s what you do when you are a 15 year old with superpowers. -Beginning of the airport fight and Steve and Tony’s argument happens the same, majority of the fight happens the same way. -Peter, as Spider-Man, jumps into the fray during the Line Up. He immediately swings to Tony’s side because Iron Man is the hero he idolizes the most at that point in time. -Tony and Peter banter, with Tony not wanting a kid there and Peter being a dumbass kid and wanting to impress Tony. -Peter does not fight Steve, he is only there to take down Bucky and Prove His Mettle as a superhero. -The entire sequence with Bucky and Sam versus Spidey happens as shown. -Seeing Giant-Man appear and grumbling himself about the whole Stilt-Man argument still, Peter realizes he can go for Scott’s legs to take him down and does the whole AT-AT takedown move. -Gets knocked back onto the ground like in the movie, Tony goes to check on him to make sure this dumbass kid didn’t get himself killed, seeing he is alive and well, Tony is impressed but he tells Peter to go home. -Bedroom scene occurs as a post-credits scene, it becomes less about Tony recruiting Peter to his side and more about figuring out what the deal with this Spider-Man Kid is, leaves the suitcase with the Stark Suit as he leaves, says they’ll be in touch.

HOMECOMING - END OF AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 23RD 2016 / SOPHOMORE YEAR

-Peter turns sixteen in August 10th. -The movie happens largely the same -a Film by Peter Parker and the Limo Conversation naturally doesn’t happen considering the afromentioned changes to Civil War. -Tony does not save Peter from drowning, Peter gets out of the lake on his own.     Reason for this change is that this scene makes Tony way controlling and uncaring towards Peter? Which, compounded by the following scenes, really paints Tony in an awful light. It also makes it more impactful that the next time, and thus the first time, Peter properly interacts with Tony since Civil War is in the direct aftermath of the Ferry Fiasco when Tony comes to collect the suit. They are then both valid in their arguments in that Peter has let the Stark Suit’s abilities get to his head and act way reckless than he should, ( Stark Suit thus serving the same narrative purpose as the Symbiote Suit ) but it also makes Peter valid in that Tony has been completely ignoring Peter ( at least on the surface / from Peter’s point of view ) until it was too late. -Rest of the movie unfolds as shown. -Toomes is Peter’s first proper Super Villain.

OCTOBER 2016 - MAY 2017

-Toomes’ arrest causes his Alien Weapons empire to fracture and for alien tech to be more readily available to the highest bidder ( In the movie it seems like Toomes really wanted the sales to be more gradual and under the radar ) -Shocker breaks away from Toomes’ crew and ends up joining the Enforcers, working for Hammerhead, who works as the Right Hand Man for The Big Man. -Spidey’s encounters with the Enforcers leads Peter to learn about the existence of The Big Man. -Phineas Mason is still at large, Peter dubs him ‘ The Tinkerer behind Toomes ’ toys ’ because he does not directly know who he is but highly suspects his existence. -A Mysterious Benefactor starts bankrolling experiments for Super Mercs, armed with the alien tech, with the, initial, goal of ‘distracting’ Spider-Man from the Finer details of The Big Man’s organization (if he’s too busy fighting Super Villains, he’d be too busy to stop Illegal Shipments ya kno). -Alex O’Hirn undergoes the procedure to become the Rhino, having the experimental alien armor fused to his skin, and only able to perspirate through his face. It is due to this fact Peter manages to take him down the first time, ‘ overheating ’ him to get him to pass out. -During this incident, Spidey gets Rhino to spill the identity of the Big Man, one L. Thompson Lincoln, aka Tombstone. -It is also during this time Spidey has his first run-in with Captain George Stacy. -He goes to visit Tombstone to tell him he knows about him, promptly gets his ass kicked and high-thwips it out of there.

THANOS INCIDENT - MAY 2017

Welcome to the Big Canon Rewrite Number Two, here, Peter does not go to Titan. First part of his appearance happens as shown, with Peter seeing the giant Q ship up in the sky and sneaking out of the bus to help Tony and co. fight the Aliens, but after losing Strange to the ship’s tractor beam, he stays on Earth and helps with the clean-up in the aftermath. Maybe even bumping into a few Defenders while doing so wink wink nudge. As a result, he does not get the Iron Spider-Man suit, sorry Marvel’s toy department.

ENDGAME - DATE UNKNOWN

Okay here’s the deal, it literally does not matter how long it has been since they’ve been blipped. Literally anyone important to a plot has been Conveniently Snapped, only reason there is a five year jump is so they can age Cassie so she can become Stature in Ant Man 3, and have Tony have a family for the Drama of it. Literally that’s the only reason, there is a reason why Far From Home makes a joke out of it. So for the purposes of sanity, let’s just say they were snapped throughout the duration of the summer and they conveniently get brought back at the beginning of the school year. -This means Peter is a part of the Final Fight but in his Stark Suit instead of the Iron Spidey suit, he also does not activate Instant Kill (why the FUCK would he, Russos!!!!!) I don’t care either way about the hug, so that’s up in the air, but he definitely does not cling onto Tony’s body lmfao nah. It is nevertheless very upsetting and near-traumatic for him to see someone die in front of him (again!)

JUNIOR YEAR

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2017

-Peter is now seventeen. -And he’s got PTSD like a motherfucker lmfao. -Getting turned into dust and coming back has everyone rattled, so the Criminal Underworld is working overtime. - Captain Stacy comes to Midtown to teach about Criminology, and also to keep an eye on his kid considering the circumstances. -Silvio ‘Silvermane’ Manfredi, head of the Maggia, is also due to be released on parole by the end of the year, so various Mob factions are trying to prepare themselves. -As a result, schematics to make more Rhino-like people hit the market, Spidey and O’Hirn actually end up teaming-up together to destroy the schematics, resulting in a three way fight between them, Hammerhead, and the Manfredi mob. -Hammerhead’s recent repeated failures shakes Tombstone’s faith in him. -The Enforcers get fancy schmancy Combat Enhancement Suits, courtesy of The Tinkerer, and Spidey has to deal with them. -Hammerhead stops the Enforcers’ getaway attempt in secret, signaling a rift between him and Tombstone. -Manfredi is released right before Christmas.

JANUARY 2018

-The Gang War(tm) begins in full force. -Spidey’s hands are full navigating the powder keg of a situation, with Tombstone and Manfredi vying for control, with Hammerhead planning something behind the scenes.

FEBRUARY 14TH 2018 -Hammerhead arranges a meeting of the factions in Metropolitan Opera House, without Tombstone’s knowledge. -Once revealed, Tombstone does not take kindly to this disobedience. -Hammerhead reaches his breaking point and attacks Tombstone. -Silvermane decides to take both of them out to eliminate the competition fully. -Silvermane, in a mechanical combat suit of his own (because comics bebey) attacks Tombstone and Hammerhead, resulting in a three way fight. -Spidey arrives and has to fight the three of them. -After a long and exhausting battle, Spidey prevails, Silvermane is arrested once again, L. Thompson Lincoln is publicly revealed to be The Big Man of Crime, and Hammerhead is nowhere to be found. -Tombstone posts bail, but Captain Stacy tells Spidey that his crime empire is crippled and there is a power vacuum. One that a certain Wilson Fisk will take advantage of soon.

LATE FEBRUARY - JUNE 2018

-Spidey is basically doing clean-up duty in the aftermath of the Gang War(tm) -He is trying to find where Hammerhead is, but comes up empty. -All Spidey can find are the rumors that he went back to his old employment under the Maggia. -He takes down last of the known Manfredi fronts before preparing for his Europe trip (it’s the restaurant fight from the FFH trailers)

FAR FROM HOME - JUNE 2018 -Happens largely the way it is depicted in the movie -He does not have the Iron Spider Suit still, in case you forgot. -Smaller differences being Peter being pegged the ‘New Iron Man’ less because of his ‘Mentorship’ under Tony and more because people are just fucking desperate for a new Big Hero, which is where Mysterio comes in. -He sees Ben’s grave instead of Tony’s during the Mysterio Fun Tour of Trauma, Zombie Iron Man still comes out of it tho because Symbolism ( not because Tony is a new Uncle Ben figure, but because it represents Peter not always being able to save everyone, even though Tony’s condition was out of his hands.) -BIGGEST DIVERGENCE: Unless plotted, I generally DO NOT recognize Peter’s identity being outed. There are two options / variations I could go with                    -Peter IS claimed to be Spider-Man, but after a Movie’s worth of adventures, he enlists the help of either a skrull or Chameleon (Dmitri the Bus Driver in FFH) to have Spidey appear in the same room as Peter and re-establishes his secret identity.                    -Mysterio just brands Spider-Man as a menace and that’s that. In any case, this leads to..

SENIOR YEAR

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2018

-Peter turns eighteen. -Branded as a menace, Spider-Man is now disliked and hunted by most authorities. -Captain Stacy, however, does not believe Mysterio and is one of Spidey’s few friends still left in the police force. -He also makes numerous remarks towards Peter and Spider-Man that suggests he figured out his secret identity on his own. -Anastasia Kravinoff arrives in New York with the intention of Hunting Spider-Man. -At the same time, Mac Gargan is hired by The Mysterious Benefactor to undergo the Super Merc procedure to hunt Spider-Man. -Kraven has her first encounter with Spidey, in which she manages to tear off a piece of his suit that she later uses to track his scent. -Mr Harrington’s class trip to Bronx Zoo is promptly ruined when Kraven shows up tracking Spidey’s trail. -The publicized skirmish in the Zoo attracts the attention of Gargan, now in a mechanical suit with a long, poison-tipped tail, stylized after Gargan’s favorite arthropod, which easily earns him the nickname ‘Scorpion’. -Spidey manages to escape, but barely. -It all comes to a head in New York Botanical Garden is a totally epic final showdown. -Maybe Rhino gets involved too and it’s a full on Survival of the Fittest in the jungle. -Peter gets stung by the poison tail but manages to shake it off. -He gets speared in the thigh at least once during the battle. -Scorpion and Rhino get imprisoned in the Vault, Kravinoff gets arrested as well but she posts bail and gets out scot free because she’s got Powerful Connections(tm)

JANUARY - MAY 2019

-Doctor Connors achieves a breakthrough on his Cross-Species formula -He tests it on himself, and initially achieves great results by regrowing his arm. -Over the following weeks, however, more and more side effects start to show by patches of green scales on his skin, increased aggression and hostility and occasional lapses in intelligence. -Around March, he has his first Lizard transformation. -Peter suspects it’s Connors, but he does not figure it out until April. -With each transformation, Connors stays as Lizard longer and longer. -I am basically ripping off the plot of the first TASM movie. -Peter and Gwen manage to synthesize an antidote. -Connors has a similar goal as to his movie counterpart, but he decides to Unleash the Lizard virus on top of Empire State Building. Because a) King Kong reference with Lizard climbing the antenna, and b) Connor going from Empire State University to Empire State Building, it’s a fun progression. -Spidey and Lizard fight on top of Empire State, with George Stacy coming to Spidey’s aid. -Spidey manages to administer the antidote to the Lizard, reverting him back to Connors who retains no memories of his actions as the Lizard. -Stacy gets injured by Lizard and before succumbing to his injuries, tells Peter to keep Gwen safe and ‘out of it’. -Lizard’s true identity remains unknown to the public, but Connors decides to relocate his family to Florida to get away from the noise of the city. Before leaving, he tells Peter to seek out his old colleague Otto Octavius if he wants to further his studies.

END OF MAY 2019

-Peter Parker graduates Midtown School of Science and Technology. -He applies and is accepted by Empire State University. Peter does not consider any other college as he wants to stay in New York for obvious reasons.

FRESHMAN UNDERGRAD

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2019

-Peter is nineteen. -He starts his studies in ESU -He is still not the Most Popular -Peter reconnects with Harry Osborn (they are Old Childhood friends and Harry used to be in Midtown for the first year but then he went to Europe, as you do.) -Spidey is still branded as a menace and hunted, though not as ferociously as before as the public’s opinion starts to turn positive ever so slowly. -The Mysterious Benefactor has Alistair Smythe build robotic spiders to hunt and slay the Spider. Like Spider Slayers. Catchy name huh. -Peter has various encounters with Slayers while trying to figure out who is behind them -He eventually discovers it’s Alistair Smythe and tracks him to Oscorp. -Smythe unleashes the Ultimate Spider-Slayer, The Black Widow to try and stop Spidey once and for all. -Fight spills to the power plant, an Oscorp employee who is currently working on the plant, Max Dillon, gets caught in the crossfire and gets electrocuted. -Spidey manages to take down Smythe, Dillon is hospitalized. -Norman Osborn publicly denounces and distances himself from Smythe ( he’s The Mysterious Benefactor if you haven’t caught on yet ) -Norman profits both from making Super Mercs and Spider-Hunters for various factions behind the scenes, and for building housing units to hold said Super Mercs and Spider-Hunters, Vault is his creation. -He is also a terrible dad, but he does genuinely care for Harry, go figure. -Harry starts taking Gloublin Green, an experimental enhancer, to boost his academic and athletic life, as his body is regularly failing due to a hereditary disease (NOT the Goblin disease, the one Harry’s mom had in the PS4 game) -Max spends Christmas in the hospital and gradually transforms into Electro. -Black Cat drops in to give her Christmas Greetings by saying the mob is salvaging the parts from Spider-Slayer fights to re-arm themselves, also notifies him to the existence of a new Big Man consolidating power. -Peter thinks it’s Hammerhead, the only loose end from the previous Gang War, and starts his investigation into him. -Peter discovers Hammerhead leads the Maggia now, having quickly climbed through the ranks after the fallout of the last Gang War.

JANUARY - MAY 2020

-Harry joins the ESU football team, his performance enhanced by The Green. -Electro is Born and he’s Angry -He blames Smythe for his condition and tries to attack Oscorp, not knowing that Smythe is imprisoned. -Spidey arrives and fights him, fight eventually spilling to Times Square -Is it obvious I’ve started ripping off TASM 2 yet or.... -Electro is arrested and sent to Ravencroft for rehabilitation. -The news of a new Big Man starts making the rounds. -Harry’s Green Juicing gets bad, he starts blacking out.

SOPHOMORE UNDERGRAD

SEPTEMBER - DECEMBER 2020

-Peter is twenty. -He starts interning for Otto Octavius after Doctor Connors’ suggestion. -Flint Marko returns after a long absence in the streets, Spidey learns that Marko left the life of crime when he fell in love and got married, but returned back into it once he learned his baby was born with a disease and he needed the money for surgery. -Bet you didn’t expect me to rip off Raimi in this. -Marko is offered money to undergo a Super Merc experiment of his own, inspired by the Elementals Mysterio faked back a few years ago. Experiment uses bio-electricity generated by Electro, but it goes ‘wrong’ and Marko is turned to dust. -Sike he can control it, he’s Sandman now. -Spidey and Sandman fight, once Peter learns of his motives, he tries to get him to stop. -Marko is told to stop the movement of an oil tanker so the new Big Man can siphon it dry. -Spidey and Marko fight on the tanker, tanker explodes, Marko expresses remorse for he only wanted the money and not to hurt anyone, so he helps usher the ship crew to safety and contains the explosion, turning into glass due to the heat. -Sandman is presumed deceased, but he survived and just blew away gently in the wind. -Maybe he’s out there somewhere who knows.

JANUARY - MAY 2021 -Norman discovers Harry’s Green Usage, he gets Harry to stop. -Stupid boy drinking the Green instead of inhaling it like his dad did I mean what -Harry discovers the Green exacerbated the progression of his illness. -Spidey meets Yuri Watanabe, who is the lead detective and later Captain who is after the Big Man and the Mob. -Peter discovers the identity of the actual new Big Man, it’s Wilson Fisk, quickly filling the power vacuum after Tombstone’s defeat. -Spidey and Fisk fight, with Fisk seriously injuring Spidey and him having to swing away.

JUNIOR UNDERGRAD

September - December 2021

-Peter is twenty one. -As Harry’s illness progresses more and more, he and Peter’s friendship is strained, Peter is unaware of the illness.   -Norman starts winding down Super Merc experiments as he turns his focus into curing Harry. -He also readies for a mayoral run because he’s nothing if not a multitasker. -Harry wonders if Spider-Man’s abilities can cure him, wants a bit of his blood, Spidey is like ‘ew no wtf’ -Great Harry hates Spidey now. -Desperate, Harry springs Electro out of Ravencroft to sic him on Spidey and make him bleed. -Electro is like ‘Sure’ but once freed, he immediately goes to the Vault to try and kill Smythe. -You just can’t trust bio-electrical beings nowadays. -Spidey fights Electro in the Vault. -Electro cuts the power to the Vault and releases a bunch of inmates, but Spidey stops him before he can cut the power that holds the more super powered inmates. -Electro is imprisoned in the Vault.

MARCH - MAY 2020 -Yeah Peter had a quiet winter for once can you believe it. -Norman is elected mayor of New York, using his role in the building of the Vault to boost his approval ratings, motherfucker was playing the Long Game. -Norman revives his old genetic experiments to find a cure for Harry. -Devil’s Breath experiment is resurrected. -Harry’s condition worsens, Norman decides to send him to ‘Europe’ to heal. -In truth, Harry is in Oscorp in ‘stasis’. -Spidey’s attention turns yet again to the rising gang activity, he channels his focus into taking down Fisk.

SENIOR UNDERGRAD

SEPTEMBER 2020 - MAY 2021

-Pete turns twenty two. -He spends most of the year working on his thesis like a good nerd. -Spidey is occasionally tipped toward Fisk fronts by a Mysterious Goblinafactor -Norman wanted to bust into the Crime Scene being the Goblin and taking over the Big Man’s turfs but Fisk beat him to it so he has to be content with just being the Mayor for the time being -Goblins am I right. -He’s also the one who supplied Silvermane with his own armor. -Also the one who maaaay have broadened the rift between Hammerhead and Tombstone by sabotaging Hammerhead’s plans behind the scenes. -He is the Big Man behind the Big Men if you will. -Anyway back to Peter -Turns in his thesis, graduates ESU. Strength of his thesis is what convinces Otto to have Peter also come into work with him in the Brand New Octavius Industries. -Norman is content to just play the Mayor and let Fisk be as Spidey and Yuri gather more and more evidence.

POST-GRAD / INSOMNIAC’S SPIDEY STUFF -Events of the game happen broadly the same -Fisk is taken down, Mister Negative enters the scene, Devil’s Breath Incident happens and Spidey gets his ass thoroughly kicked by Sable, etc. etc. -Otto turns into Ock. -Ock facilitates the Vault Breakdown (MCU got a Raft up and running and it ain’t in NYC sooo, Vault it is) and forms the Sinister Six. -However instead of Vulture being part of the Sinister Six, it’s Kraven. She’s back for a proper rematch. -Unless plotted, May does not die from exposure to the virus, she just gets really messed up and hospitalized, but she gets cured later. -Events of the DLC happen largely as shown as well, Hammerhead techs himself up, Yuri goes Wraith, Sable kicks Spidey’s ass again but also grows a Heart. Aw. -Osborn resigns in disgrace, but as luck would have it, Fisk and Li’s arrest leaves a nice Goblin-shaped hole in the criminal underworld for Gosborn to fill. -Norman discovers Harry’s ‘cure’ is sorta sentient.

WILL GORMAN GOSBORN FINALLY FACE OFF WITH SPIDER MAN? WILL SPIDEY LEARN THE REAL MASTERMIND BEHIND EVERYTHING? WILL HARRY GET GOOPED? WILL PETER FINALLY DISCOVER WHY KIDS LOVE THE TASTE OF CAP’N CRUNCH?

ALL THAT AND MORE, NEXT TIME ON, THE SPECTACULAR ADVENTURES OF THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN!

[ty-talks-comics]

Best of Marvel: Week of November 13th, 2019

Best of this Week: Fallen Angels #1 - Bryan Hill, Szymon Kudranski, Frank D’Armata and Joe Sabino

She is a butterfly.

Kwannon had been living in silent darkness for almost thirty years, trapped inside of her mind  while Betsy Braddock occupied her body (Uncanny X-Men #256, 1989). That changed in Hunt for Wolverine: Mystery in Madripoor #4 (2018) when Betsy psychically reconstructed her original body, allowing Kwannon to reclaim hers and make sporadic appearances in Matthew Rosenberg’s Uncanny X-Men (2018/2019), mostly serving as Wolverine’s back-up. Of course, things have changed significantly since then and now.

This book opens with a young girl standing on a train while Kwannon narrates in the background. It’s mostly vague as Kwannon refers to a mysterious “she” that she hoped was happy and free during the time that she was locked in her own body. The little girl puts on some sort of tech apparatus on her head which, upon activation, causes her eyes to turn blck as she begins to tear through the pedestrians on the train. It’s savage as she rips a handrail out of place and starts beating people with it. Eventually, she makes it to the train operator’s room, knocks him out and derails the train. Presumably everyone is killed in the horrific accident and the only word on her lips before it happens: Apoth.

Kwannon, now choosing to go by Psylocke as she sees her former name as a shackle to a horrible life of torment and pain, is meditating and enjoying the peace of Krakoa. The first panels are set up very well with many close up shots to Psylocke basking in nature, even pricking her finger and bleeding on a flower to show that blood can even bring new life as it blooms. Frank D’Armata makes excellent use of color as the flower and a butterfly appear purple, Psylocke’s signature color. It’s beautiful, especially as we get to a beautiful shot of Psylocke, in peace, floating as purple butterflies swarm around her.

That peace is soon interrupted as she’s bombarded with a psychic attack by an unknown entity telling her that she has to kill a God, she has to kill Apoth. After the vision, she goes to visit Magneto, still “mourning” the death of Charles Xavier (X-Force #1, 2019). She tells him what she saw and requests to leave Krakoa to investigate. Initially, he denies her request, citing the most recent attack that left Xavier dead as the reason no one is able to leave the island. She responds in fury, trying to assure him that what she saw wasn’t just a dream. 

These pages are strange as they also utilize a bunch of close-ups, focusing on their mouths. It gives the conversation a close and shadowy feel as they’re also shrouded in heavy inks. Magneto urges her to see Mister Sinister, saying that he might find her visions interesting. When she questions him about this, he explains that his grief over Xavier’s death makes him forget conversations (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). She then goes to visit the Evil Eccentric, who also doesn’t seem interested until Psylocke talks about her experience being trapped, showing her ferocity when he asks her how she’d kill Betsy if she could. Satisfied with her answer, he helps her out and asks that she gathers a team.

We then cut to X-23 and Kid Cable (I will never refer to him as just Cable) as they stand around one of the many fires made in celebration of peace and safety. Kid Cable sees Laura not enjoying her time and asks her how she likes to dance, then they have a small fight that Laura wins. She comments that she doesn’t feel anything because everything on Krakoa is safe and “safety sucks.” I like this characterization of Laura so much better than what she had been doing with her plucky, child sidekick, Gabby. It reminds me of both her time in X-Force and the beginning of All New, All Different Marvel when she was ultra violent and reckless. Psylocke tries to recruit the both of them, but Laura convinces her that Kid Cable deserves the peace that Krakoa provides and the two leave the island together.

The pair travel to Tokyo and meet a former contact of Kwannon’s. She informs them of a new designer drug created by Apoth called Overclock that seems to affect people's mind states, causing them to murder others while the drug is killing them as they get super high. As Psylocke and X-23 watch the video of the train accident, Psylocke has a flashback to her days as a Hand assassin and we earn that she had a daughter that was taken from her. Her daughter was given a tattoo of a butterfly, same as the girl in the train derailment. Whether or not this is her daughter is unknown to us, but it is a possibility. 

The video sends Psylocke into a rage and she demands answers, grabbing the woman and threatening her with mind scrambling via psyblade. When the woman refuses and says that Apoth will kill her, Psylocke plunges her psychic dagger into her mind as Laura takes out her guards. The best things about these pages are that they’re all coated in a tint of purple, alluding to the fact that this somehow all ties back to Psylocke/Kwannon somehow. There are threads here that only she can follow because of her ruthlessness and it all feels so very personal.

Psylocke rips the information from her contact’s mind and travels to the location that she found. There, she encounters a shack full of children under the influence of Overclock and Apoth has taken one of them to speak through. The rest of the children die while he warns Psylocke and X-23 to return to the safety and seclusion of Krakoa while he evolves the world. Apoth seems like an interesting villain as he mentions how hard it is to kill children and yet does it anyway. He claims that what he’s doing is evolving humanity and the person who gave Psylocke the vision referred to him as a new God. What is his power and how is he able to control people’s bodies and create such a deadly and advanced drug?

If I were to have any complaints, it would have to be that sometimes the inks are so dark and prevalent that they can start to feel overbearing. There are a lot of good colors used and D’Armata’s signature style is there, they can sometimes feel drowned out by Kudranski’s inks. When they work together, they produce amazing panels, but when they don’t, they produce odd looking shapes and poses. One in particular after Laura is given the knowledge about Psylocke’s daughter and then she’s hunched over like Quasimodo, that’s more so for Kudranski’s posing, but that darkness doesn’t help.

This first issue of Fallen Angels was very interesting to say the very least. I love the idea of getting to know a new and reformed Kwannon as Psylocke given she hasn’t been a character of her own since the 80s and that small time she was resurrected in the mid-2000s. She seems focused and yet still maintains the deadly edge that served her so well as an assassin. I also like that she doesn’t want to be reminded of her time in the darkness, even dismissing Betsy when she presumably wants to talk about everything between them. I don’t know if its anger or contentment with her new life that lets her walk away from Betsy, but it kinda feels liberating in a way.

I’m actually very excited to see where things go from here, so far I love Psylocke's new direction as she seems to be slowly turning into a teacher for people like X-23 and Kid Cable. Throughout the book there had been flashbacks showing Psylocke's past and the abuse she went through to become one of the Hands deadliest assassins, so it's very likely she'll be similar but better to those two. She will turn them into butterflies. The most perfect versions of themselves.

[chemically-imbalanced-romance]

The Precious Life of Logan Sanders

    Prompt/Synopsis: “Honey, you can't reach out to an angel for friendship, that's what demons are for." 

Requested by: @mirror2thespirit

Trigger warnings: Major character death ((it’s not supposed to be sad tho, it’s of old age and the character continues on after death)), alcoholism, abuse, suicide attempt ((almost)), bullying, neglect, sympathetic deceit, implied suicide ((not the major character death)), hhhh let me know if I missed anything 

    Word count: 3204

A/N: This is a fic I wrote a while ago (Through the 4th to the 9th of November, 2018 to be specific) but it got deleted when I deleted my weekly analogical blog. I honestly think it’s pretty great, so I’m putting it back here. Mind the trigger warnings

    Reblogs > Likes

    All his life, Logan had been followed by a figure shrouded in white mist. They were more than human, and showed up every time Logan needed protection or comfort. They looked normal by all means, with rich black skin and bright brown eyes, but they never aged and a faint blue glow created a halo atop their head. Logan tried pointing them out before to his older brother, but Roman just scoffed and told him he was seeing things; the figure winked. 

    Maybe Logan wouldn’t be so obsessed with him if he had something else to focus on. His parents had chased away anybody willing to give him attention, and he disappointed anybody willing to stick around by not being more like Roman. That made sense- Roman and Logan coped in very different ways, and it wasn’t Roman’s fault that his way of coping was just better. 

    Logan liked losing himself in books, wiki pages, research. He liked to leave his body and stay somewhere else for a while. Roman liked to lose himself in other people- boys, specifically. He was constantly skipping school and staying out late, almost never around the house anymore. The first time he skipped school, their dad gave him a black eye, and then he did it again and their parents gave up. Logan tried skipping school, and his dad beat him so bad he couldn’t get out of bed all weekend. Roman stayed with him while he recovered, bringing him food and playing video games, but Logan barely looked at him. 

    It wasn’t Roman’s fault people treated him better. It wasn’t Roman’s fault he got it easier. It wasn’t Roman’s fault that Logan hated him. 

    He’d had enough.

    As he laid in bed, his eye throbbing and his chest contracting with sobs, he decided he was going to talk to this person. 

    He tried three times before he was stopped. 

    First Attempt: Caught off guard 

    Logan watched his ratty sneakers step on the cracks in the sidewalk as he made his way to school the next morning. The sun peeked over the horizon, painting the sky cerulean. The concealer and foundation Roman insisted on putting on stuck awkwardly to his face, even though Roman promised he’d get used to it. 

    He glanced up and faltered- the boy was sitting backwards on a bench facing away from him in a nearby park, his chin rested over his folded arms, smiling. Logan glanced around, but he was the only one in the street. 

He started towards him just as a half dozen books attacked his ankles. He smacked against the pavement painfully as his classmates rode by on their bikes, laughter echoing down the street. Logan glanced down- It was the book their English teacher assigned an essay on. 

    Hot shame curled in Logan’s gut, and he started to curl up with tears in his eyes when something crashed. He looked up just in time to see each bike slamming into each other like dominos, the kids laying in a pile of bruised bodies. 

    Logan looked back to the bench, but the boy was gone. 

    Second Attempt: The direct approach 

    Logan glared at his textbook, his hands curled into fists. It was close to 2am, and he was damn near ready to scream. He had a test the next day in English, and he was nowhere near ready for it. He was already failing the class. He didn’t want to know what would happen if his parents got called in for his grades. That happened one time in middle school, and they were much more lenient then. 

    Something snapped outside, and his head shot up. He leaned over his desk to peek out the window of his above-ground basement bedroom. 

    The boy drifted delicately around Logan’s front yard, moonlight sparkling against his skin, the white fabric of his dress flowing over his elbows, hips, and knees. A vibrant purple storm cloud followed, raining down on him as giggles echoed in Logan’s head, pastel blue and white dots following wherever he stepped. 

    Logan moved before his brain caught up to what he was doing; he sprinted out of the house, stopping in the doorway, and the boy looked up at him with what Logan could only describe as bliss. He started moving, bare feet crushing the wet flowers, and opened his mouth to speak- and the boy was gone. 

    Logan blinked. He hadn’t looked away or closed his eyes; he was suddenly charging at nothing. 

    Frustrated, he went back inside, but before they left for school the next morning, Roman pointed out the flowers. 

    Attempt Three: The indirect approach 

    After school, Logan sat on the same park bench as before. He put his headphones in and waited. He got halfway through the Les Mis soundtrack, the sun long since set, before he heard him. 

    “Go home,” a soft voice whispered in his ear. It could have been the wind. There was no one there. “It’s late. It’s dangerous. Go home.” 

    He didn’t move. 

    “Logan. You can’t be here. You know that.” 

    Logan squeezed his eyes shut. “Why not?” 

    “It isn’t safe.” 

    “Take me home.” 

    The boy chuckled. “I can’t do that.” 

    Logan clenched his fists; he was being mocked. “I’m not leaving until you speak to me,” he snapped. “Tell me what you want.” 

    Silence stretched out long enough for Logan to wonder whether he was even still there, and then he spoke again. “You’re very clever, Logan, but this isn’t going to work.” 

    “Why not?”

    “It can’t.” 

    Logan’s entire body tensed, his mind screaming, as footsteps sounded behind him. He was too scared to move. 

    “I’ll distract them.” 

    He didn’t look back, sprinting all the way home. 

    Attempt Four: The desperate approach 

    Logan buried his face in his hands. His parents continued screaming at each other upstairs as if they were the only ones who could hear it. He wished they’d just stop. 

    He straightened up and snatched the bottle of pills from his nightstand. 

He wasn’t actually trying to talk to Patton this time. He’d… Given up. He’d started thinking about why he was really there, and what he had done. Why he stayed, even when he didn’t want to. He couldn’t come up with any answers. 

He grabbed the bottle of vodka he’d stolen from his parents and popped open the bottle of pills. He closed his eyes, taking in a shuddering breath. 

He was very aware of someone’s presence. 

“Go away.” 

“I don’t think I’m who you think I am.”

Logan snapped his eyes open. The figure standing in front of him looked no older than his counterpart, but with milky white skin and shrouded in black dust. Little black horns stuck out from his vibrant purple hair. 

Logan furrowed his eyebrows. “You’re not…” 

“No.” He nodded to the bottle of pills. “You might want to put that down.” 

Logan blinked, and shook his head. 

He sighed. “C’mon, man. Just put it down and talk to me for a moment.” Logan just stared. “Fine, keep it, if it makes you feel better. At least put the lid back on, though, yeah? It’ll at least make me feel better.” 

Logan did so, and the boy did relax a bit. The demon drifted around the room, lavender combat boots pressing into the carpet as he inspected everything. “So you’re Logan, right?” He picked up the finished Rubix cube on Logan’s desk. “If not, this is one goddamn coincidence- not a bad one, though.” 

“I’m Logan.” 

“Cool.” He set it down. “I’m Virgil.” 

Logan looked at him, beyond confused. “What are you?” 

Virgil grinned. “That’s not very nice.”

“Just tell me!” 

He sighed. “Alright, yeah, I get it. Not the best time for jokes.” He sat next to Logan on the bed, emitting frost like a freezer. “What were you doing trying to talk to Patton?”

“Patton is…” 

“Right. The guy in white.” 

“I just…” Logan blushed. “I’m sick of being alone, okay?” 

Virgil grinned. “Honey, you can't reach out to an angel for friendship, that's what demons are for." 

“I don’t understand,” he said in annoyance. 

Virgil nudged him. “Patton’s not going to be able to help you. At least not for a while, as far as I’m concerned.” 

Logan’s chest grew tight, his voice strained. “Can you just make sense?” 

He rose his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright.” He dropped his hands in his lap, meeting Logan’s eyes. “Do you remember when the bookshelf fell?” 

Logan looked away, guilt twisting in his stomach. “Yes,” he said quietly. 

When Logan was twelve, he got home from school to find his dad home alone, drunk. He was mad that Logan hadn’t emptied the dishwasher before he left, even though the middle school was miles away and Logan had to wake up at four a.m. just to get ready and walk there on time. He would have hit him- If the bookshelf hadn’t fallen and broken his arm. 

“That was Patton.” 

Logan furrowed his eyebrows. “What… No, it wasn’t.” 

“And when you stayed late for detention in ninth grade, because you got too many tardies? You were on your way to the parking lot when that group of juniors stopped you.” 

The kids had been about to hurt Logan, and make him late getting back home, something his parents didn’t take lightly. They didn’t get the chance to do anything, though, because a teacher leaving for the day passed them, and he was able to follow her out of the building. 

“I remember,” Logan mumbled. 

“And then, last week. With the kids on the bike.” Logan just nodded, and Virgil nudged him. “All those days you thought you’d off yourself if you had to go to school, and it was cancelled, or ended up being easier than you thought? Every time you thought it couldn’t get any worse, and then it got better. Do you remember that, Logan?” 

“It was Patton?” He asked quietly. 

Virgil smiled, a little pride in his voice. “Ever since the beginning.” 

Logan clenched his fists. “If he’s been here the entire time, why hasn’t he said anything?!” He glared at Virgil. “He can’t fix my problems by breaking my father’s arm and getting me a few days off school!” Logan jumped to his feet, throwing the pills on the bed. “I didn’t want much, I just wanted someone to talk to! Why couldn’t he just do that?!” Logan whipped around. “Why is that so much harder?!”

Virgil was unfazed. “He can’t get near you.”

“Why?” 

“Because it’ll kill you.” 

Logan blinked. He swallowed. “I don’t understand.” 

Virgil clasped his hands together, playing with his sleeves. “Patton… He’s been protecting you, yeah. But if he can’t protect you anymore, then it’s time for, well, for you to go. That’s his job, too.” 

“What are you here for, then?” He quickly realized he wasn’t dying tonight.

Virgil gave a lopsided smile. “We’re kind of a duo. And since I won’t kill you by talking to you, and since I’ve kind of got a better grip on things, I can come in for a more direct approach.” 

Logan eyed the bottle, nauseous. 

Virgil stood, gripping Logan’s shoulders. “Listen. Patton wouldn’t let me come in here if he thought there was no chance. He would give you your do over and move on.” He bit his lip, hesitating. “Some people don’t get a happy ending. But they get to try again- everyone does, as many times as they want. But I don’t expose myself to people just for the hell of it. I didn’t come in here just to let you give up at seventeen fucking years old.” 

Logan squeezed his eyes shut as they filled with tears, gripping Virgil’s hands. “I don’t think I can do it.” 

Virgil eased Logan back onto the bed, kneeling between his legs. “Logan. Look at me. What do you want? If you just went to bed, what would you want to do when you woke up?” 

“I don’t know.” 

“Yes, you do.” 

“No, I-” 

“It doesn’t have to be realistic. It can be anything. I don’t care if you want to live on fucking Mars. Why are you here?” 

Logan cracked his watery eyes open. “I just don’t want to be alone anymore.” 

“Then make sure that happens,” he insisted. “It won’t be tomorrow, or next week, and it’s not going to get any easier any time soon. But Patton can be pretty stubborn, and next time you pick up those pills for any reason other than a headache, he’ll smite you.” 

Logan laughed weakly, wiping his eyes. “Isn’t that counterproductive?” 

“Hush. You’re not going to be alone forever, Logan. Because you aren’t a bad person.”

“Does everyone have… You guys?”

“They do.” Virgil winked. “They’re just not all clever enough to see them.” 

Logan glared. “Are you flirting with me?” 

He stood. “Absolutely not. We may not be human anymore, but Pat and I are as monogamous as they come.”

“Will I ever meet him?” 

Virgil shrugged one shoulder. “When you’re ready.” 

The chill of the room began slowly seeping out, and Logan panicked, jumping up and crying, “Wait!” 

The frost settled back into the room, Virgil looking at him curiously. “What?” 

“I…” He slumped, looking away. “I don’t want you to leave just yet. Please?” 

“Alright.” Virgil settled himself on the bed, against the wall. “You put that shit away, I’ll stay right here, okay?” Logan hesitated. “Go on. I promise.” 

Logan gave in, snatching up the pills and the alcohol, rushing to sneak upstairs, put them away, and come back down. Virgil was still right where he left him. 

They laid down a few inches apart, facing each other. Logan shivered as he slowly fell asleep, Virgil’s presence reminding him of safe things. 

He woke up the next morning with the sunlight streaming through his bare window. He rolled over in his empty bed, blinking in confusion at his nightstand. He ran his fingers over the carvings, reading Don’t fuck me over xx. 

It was Saturday morning. 

He could do anything. 

He went to the library. 

xxx

Logan was well into his nineties when he finally met Patton. Too young, Virgil said, although he said that with everyone. At Virgil’s suggestion, Logan had dedicated his life to teaching, to discovery. His research led to several breakthroughs in medicine, and he discovered several highly effective means of therapy for those with social disorders. 

While he was dedicated to academics, he didn’t forget why he stayed. He made an effort not to be such a recluse, something that hurt him at the start- the kids in his hometown weren’t kind. 

So he moved. He went to the city, the same one that held the college he got a scholarship for. He knew the likelihood of there being nothing at all for him was low, and found a book club for mystery readers that met every Saturday. It was awkward, and painful, but he got used to making conversation and having positive attention on him. 

On campus, he met Remy when he nearly spilled his coffee all over Logan first thing in the morning. Logan quickly learned that Remy was addicted to coffee, largely because of his insomnia, and always had on a pair of sunglasses due to his photophobia. He was… Interesting. 

At first, they were hesitant acquaintances, but after Logan effectively helped Remy through a panic attack, Remy latched onto him like a koala. Remy was loud and funny and forced him to eat, and Logan helped him with his homework and kept him company when he couldn’t sleep. 

Two years later, Logan met Emile in his psychology class. He almost didn’t believe it would happen, but after a while, he didn’t feel lonely anymore. He still had to deal with intense abandonment issues, but Emile and Remy never let him deal with it alone, and Logan would be damned if he didn’t give them the same treatment. He wanted to help people, and that included being the best fucking friend in the entire world. 

A few weeks before graduation, he got a call from Roman, whom he hadn’t spoken to since the day before Roman turned eighteen. Logan met him in a coffee shop. 

Roman hadn’t gone to school- he couldn’t afford it and skipped too much, slacked off too much to get any kind of scholarship, and he wasn’t too interested anyway. He told Logan he went straight into working and doing theatre on the side, and was in the city for his first movie audition. Logan told him about school, and his job, and Roman was just as surprised as he was when Logan told him about Remy and Emile. 

“Well I have to meet them!” He cried, then hesitated, remembering he’d practically abandoned Logan. “If you want, that is.”

Logan nearly laughed; he’d never seen Roman look so pitiful. “Yeah, sure. We can all go out to dinner or something.” 

Logan was in his mid-twenties, and working under a medical apprenticeship, when he met Seth at the book club he was now the president of. The first thing Logan noticed about Seth was the bright pink patches of eczema sprinkled all over his otherwise dark brown skin, and the second was that he was a compulsive liar. Sometimes Logan didn’t even realize Seth was lying, until he was stumbling over himself trying to correct it, flustered and embarrassed. 

Logan admired him. They stayed talking in the library even after everyone else in the book club left, and Logan learned he was in therapy for compulsive lying, anxiety, and depression. While Logan and Roman both left home when they were eighteen and never even thought of turning back, Seth was tentatively trying to mend his relationship with his parents after they cut him off for lying. 

They fell easily into a relationship. It just made sense; they were comfortable with each other and understood each other a lot better than most people. Remy and Emile understood Logan’s trouble with feelings, and could temporarily soothe his abandonment issues. But Seth didn’t just understand, didn’t just tolerate it- around him, Logan was comfortable enough to express his emotions, and the things Seth said actually stuck. Remy and Emile had to come running again and again, but Seth’s voice rang in his head any time he felt insecure. 

One night, in their fourties, Logan admitted to Seth while they were laying in bed at night that Patton existed, this person he’s seen his entire life who watches out for him. Seth didn’t mock him, like Logan feared. He wanted to hear all about it. Logan had never felt as relieved as he did in that moment. He’d been dragging this along throughout their entire relationship, and they both noticed a difference afterwards, how much lighter he felt. He could finally put his full trust in Seth. 

He went with Patton without any struggle. Virgil, whom he hadn’t seen since that night when he was seventeen, clapped him on the back and congratulated him.

Patton offered him the warmest smile- he was made of sunlight. “Logan Sanders,” he said, his voice made of wind, “would you like to go again?”

[bee-kathony]

Midnight Kiss | Ch. 1 “Glitter On The Floor” 

a/n: Happy New Year! This is a 3 chapter mini-fic that will be finished on Saturday! I hope you enjoy a little something different for the holidays :)

December 31st, 2018

9:48pm

“Lady Jane!”

“Coming!” Claire slipped her heels on, careful not to trip over her pile of outfit choices. She hadn’t had a night out in months and tonight was New Year’s Eve, the perfect excuse to drink a little too much.

Taking one last glance in the mirror, she deemed her unruly curls good enough and swabbed at her lipstick.

“LJ, are you comin’ or not?” Her best friend, Joe called from the door.

She smiled to herself and turned out her bedroom light. They were headed downtown somewhere in Edinburgh; a fancy hotel that Joe had heard of a good party.

“I’m ready,” Claire grinned, reaching for her favorite red coat in the hall closet. “You take forever, Joe. Come on, we’re going to be late!”

Joe laughed and ushered her out the door, “Claire Beauchamp would be late to a New Year’s Eve party.”

“I couldn’t decide what to wear,” she argued. “I didn’t want to look frumpy or plain.”

“LJ, you couldn’t look plain if you tried,” he winked at her. Joe was a good looking man, but they’d been friends for eight years — ever since they showed up early to their first day of medical school. Joe was also American, the only American in their intern class, just as she was the only Englishwoman. He was more like her brother, and he’d been the one that convinced her to come out with him tonight instead of spending the night in her PJ’s watching old Christmas movies.

“Thank you, Joe,” Claire smiled.

It was a ten minute UBER ride to the hotel and as Claire checked the time, she realized that her phone battery was on 23%. “Oh Jesus H. Christ… I forgot to plug my phone in.”

“Who do you need to call?” Joe looked over at her, “You’ll be with me the whole night, you can use my phone if you really need to make a late night call.”

“I’ve got no one to call anyways,” she sighed. “It’s fine, I don’t need it. It’s not like I plan to get anyones number this evening.”

“Oh, don’t sell yourself short, LJ,” Joe grinned at her. “You could meet a handsome Scot and have your life changed forever.”

Rolling her eyes, she shoved her phone back in her small purse. “I highly doubt that. I’ve been living in Edinburgh for nearly eight years and besides Frank, no one has seemed interested.”

“Frank was a dick,” Joe said with no subtlety.

Her jaw dropped and Claire couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled in her chest. “Well, you’re not wrong.”

“I’m never wrong,” Joe smirked. “You just wait and see, I’ve got a good feeling about tonight.”

“If you say so,” she smiled.

When they arrived at the hotel, they left their coats at the front door where the attendant told them to go to the top floor.

“This place is so swanky,” Claire said as she looked around at the elevator decked with mirrors.

“I don’t just go to any party, Lady J,” Joe grinned and as the door opened, Claire’s eyes widened. The party was in full swing and it was decorated like the roaring 20’s — looking something like The Great Gatsby.

“C’mon old sport, let’s get some drinks,” Joe smiled at her amazed expression and tugged on her hand, guiding her through the crowd of people. The music was fitting as well, swing. The dance floor was covered with couples doing the Charleston and Claire was itching to try it.

“Two martinis,” Joe said to the bartender and then turned to Claire. “So, what do you think?”

She smiled, her eyes still grazing over the room, with golden lights cascading over the ceiling. “It’s wonderful, Joe. Thank you for bringing me.”

“Anytime, LJ, anytime.”

Claire took her drink from the bartender, sipping slowly. As much as she wanted to dance, she knew she would need a couple more drinks before anyone ever saw her out on that dance floor.

Twenty minutes later, Joe dragged her out — supplied with enough alcohol or not, he was making her dance.

“Let loose, Beauchamp! Throw your hands in the air,” he laughed and started moving his body to the music.

She was stiff at first, feeling self conscious, but as the music invaded her senses and the alcohol moved through her bloodstream, she lost all her inhibitions. Her attempt at the Charleston was poor, but she laughed, giving it her best shot. Claire hadn’t had this much fun in ages and thought she could dance all night.

A few songs later, the band said they were going on a break and would come back thirty minutes before midnight. Claire and Joe came off the dance floor, back to the bar with heaving chests and sweating brows.

“I didn’t realize dancing like that would be so intense!” Claire laughed, feeling exuberant.

“I bet your feet are killin’ you,” Joe observed, looking down at her shoes. “I’m glad I’m a man.”

“I quite like them,” she glanced at her feet, not the slightest bit bothered by them.

“They’re cute, I’ll give you that,” Joe smiled and then nudged her side, leaning in close. “Don’t look too obvious, but there’s a tall ginger man staring at you by the end of the bar.”

Claire turned her head to the right and spotted him. He was tall. Taller than most of the other people around him and his hair was in fact very ginger and curly, just like hers.

“I told you not to look too obvious, LJ,” Joe laughed.

“Well, I’m not going to crane my neck. Besides, if he’s looking then he should just come over and say something,” Claire smirked and took a sip of her freshly poured drink.

“Oh shit,” Joe mumbled. “He’s coming over, you got your wish.”

“What?” Claire’s heart started to race as she looked back over to where the tall man had been but he’d disappeared. When she turned to ask Joe where the man had gone, he’d disappeared as well. “Joe!” She did a 180 in search of her friend, but instead bumped into someone else.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Claire covered her mouth, looking at where her martini had spilled over the man’s shirt. When she looked up, she realized it was the tall red headed man from the end of the bar.

“Och, ’tis alright. At least it’s clear,” he chuckled. His Highland lilt was something to behold and while Claire had lived in Scotland for the last eight years, she never got tired of hearing that accent.

“I’m so sorry, I cannot believe I’ve spilt my drink on a stranger!” Claire laughed nervously and then reached for a napkin, dapping at his shirt. His chest was firm and his skin was warm. The man grabbed her wrist and she met his eyes again, this time nothing how perfectly blue they were.

“Dinna fash, lass. It’ll dry on it’s own,” his lips curved on one side.

Gulping, Claire placed the dirty napkin on the top of the bar. “Were you staring at me earlier?”

The man looked a little surprised to be called out, but then smiled, nodding his head at her question. “Aye, I couldn’t take my eyes of yer wee hair.”

“My hair?” Claire reached up to touch her curls and for the first time since she arrived, realized that her curls had fallen out of her bun and were strewn around her face. “Oh, because of how bad it looks?”

The man laughed again, a deep sound from his chest. “Nah, ’tis like a nest.” Claire’s eyes widened and his own bugged out, “Oh, no! I didn’t mean it looked like something animals lived in, just that it was big and inviting — Ifrinn!”

Claire twirled a curl around her finger, a small smile playing on her lips. “You think my hair is inviting?”

“What I mean to say is…” He smiled down at her and reached up to touch a curl on top of her head and she froze in place. “You’ve verra lovely hair, Sassenach.”

“Sassenach…” she repeated. “You’re full of compliments tonight aren’t you?”

“Och, please dinna take offense,” the man held up his hand. “I only was regardin’ ye bein’ English, nothing negative.”

“It’s alright,” Claire smiled. “I quite like it actually.” Holding her hand out, Claire felt something electric in the air between them. “I’m Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp, it’s nice to meet you.”

His hand slid into hers and there was a spark that shot up her arm and straight to her heart. “James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser,” he grinned and then brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back softly.

“Och, ye’ve a bit of glitter in yer hair,” he released her hand and then she felt his fingers on her scalp as he removed some glitter, letting it fall to the floor.

“Are you here with anyone?” Claire asked.

“Aye, my sister Jenny and her husband. And my friend John, but they’re fine on their own for a bit,” he grinned down at her.

Claire glanced around the room quickly for Joe, but still didn’t see him. Jamie caught her looking and she hoped he didn’t think she was looking for a way out of their conversation.

“Are ye here wi’ anyone?”

She nodded, “My friend Joe. And he conveniently disappeared whenever you showed up.”

Jamie’s lips did that lopsided curve thing again and Claire’s stomach flipped. He was charming for sure and all she wanted to do was kiss his lips to see what they would taste like. As she looked into his eyes again, she had the vague thought that maybe he would be her midnight kiss.

“Would ye like to take a walk, Claire?”

What did she have to lose?

“Sure,” she smiled and slipped her hand through his proffered arm and followed as he lead them back through the crowd of people and out to the quieter hallway.

“Where are we going?” She asked as he hit the elevator button.

He flashed his brows, grinning. “’Tis a surprise, Sassenach.”

[buckisthatyou]

More Than This - 5

Pairing: Bucky x Reader, Bucky x Natasha

Word Count: 2222

Summary: Sleeping with Bucky Barnes is a mistake as he does not know your true feelings for him and now he is dating Natasha.

Warnings: Angst, Language

Part 4

Series Masterlist

Masterlist

Author note: As usual I write fanfic instead of going to sleep so apologize for any mistake. :’) Hope you guys enjoy this. Happy reading and have a good day! Do leave some feedback because that shit makes my day and encourages me to write more. 

You almost let yourself cry over again for Bucky but you remember the promise you make for yourself.

You will move on.

You will let him go.

He doesn’t love you so, your feelings are your own problem that you have to deal with. Alone.

Taking a deep breath, you walk yourself to your bathroom, planning to change your outfit and just stay at home. But as you look at yourself in the mirror, realization comes and hits you. You already looking this good with your cute outfit and your perfect make up. All of these effort to look good ain’t going to waste. You can go out and enjoy yourself. You still have enough time to go to the concert, so you decide to go and instantly taking your phone to order an Uber.

“I can do this!”

When you arrive at the place, there are quite a few number of people. A small table is being placed on the outside to sell some merchandises. You plan to go to buy something for yourself later but first you have to buy a ticket.  With all these people surrounded you, you become a little anxious, not knowing where to go.

“Hey.” A soft voice comes, greeting you.

You turn around to see a man, a stranger. You smile awkwardly to him, stepping aside making a way for him to move. But he stays on his spot, hand scratching his neck. You furrow your eyebrows, wondering if the space you have given him is not enough. But you still step aside, hopefully this is more than enough space for him.  Your eyes linger around.

“Hey. I- I. Umm. Is.. Umm. Do you need some help?” he finally speaks.

“Sorry?”

“Do you need help? You seem lost. Umm.. are you searching for your friend?” he asks again, this time with a bit of confidence.

“No. I’m not looking for a friend but I need to buy a ticket. Do you know where I can get one?” You ask for help from the stranger.

“Just for one? Um you see, if you don’t mind I have an extra ticket. I can give it to you.” He takes the ticket out from his pocket, showing them to you.

“Why you have an extra? But yeah I’ll take it. How much?” you search for your purse, looking for some money for the nice man.

But he stops you, with a smile plastered on his face.

“I supposed to see the band with a friend of mine but he couldn’t make it. Have to finish his work at the office. You know you don’t have to pay for this. I give it to you for free.”

You look at him in disbelief. What a coincidence.

“Same thing here. I supposed to come here with a friend but things happen so here I am.” You tell him but not going into details, you may have a breakdown if you do so. “You know what? Let’s enjoy the show together. I mean we’re already sharing the same situation. I’m y/n.” you offer him your right hand which he takes it with a smile, giving you a firm handshake.

“Sounds like a good idea, y/n. I’m Dan. So, ummm shall we?” he nudges to the main door.

As you walk beside Dan, you finally see the booth for selling tickets. You shake your head as you let out a chuckle.

How can you not see it?

Once you two are inside the small venue, Dan takes your hand and brings you to the center of the crowd, he grins at you.

“I love being in the center.”

“Of attention?” you joke, messing with him.

“Yes, your attention.” He jokes back and you just smile.

Maybe you are going to be alright even without Bucky.

As the light goes down and the crowd cheers in excitement, welcoming the singer, you still holding his hand. Not planning to let him go. Not just yet. And that is exactly what you do for the entire show, you two just holding hands while enjoying the performance. It doesn’t feel awkward. In fact, it feels perfect like the two of you are made for each other.

One hour and half, the show eventually comes to an end. You feel alive again. After months of planning and hoping to see the band performing live, you finally get to scratch one of your goals in 2018.

Dan notices the wide smile on your face.

“They’re good aren’t they?” he says as you two walk out, making way to the merchandise table.

You nod your head, still humming your favourite song.

You take a look at all the stuff, the enamel pin reminds you of Bucky. He has his own pin collections. The one he puts on his leather and denim jackets.

You opened the door, revealing Bucky with a plastic full of plums in his hand.

“Hi, doll” he stepped in, kissing you on the cheek.

“I brought you some plums.”

“Thank you, Bucky.” You smiled, thanking him for his generosity.

Your eyes didn’t miss the new accessories on his denim jacket. You wondered who was the one introduced him to this fashion style.

“Bucky, what are those?” you pointed to his right and left chest, a few pins being put on and showed off to.

He blushed. “These? Umm.. Wanda gave me some. I saw her wore a few of them a few weeks ago and became interested. Do you like it? Is it weird for me to put them on? Should I take them off?”

He questioned, there weren’t many things you would change about Bucky, because to you he was the perfect human but maybe if you could, you would make him lose his insecurities. He needed to see that he is perfect just the way he is.

“Ah, I see. No, Buck. They are fine. You look good to be honest.” You told him the truth.

The smile he gave you as he listened to your words was beautiful, you promised to make him smiles more in the future.

“You really think so, sweetheart? Thank you!” he squealed in excitement as he hugged you tightly.

In that moment, you knew you had fallen deep for James Buchanan Barnes.

“It is great.” Dan’s sweet voice brings you back to the reality.

You look at the thing he has commented about, it is an enamel pin in your hand. You smile at Dan. “Yeah, I think I’m gonna buy this one.”

The two of you standing in front of the building, at the same spot you have met two hours earlier.

“So y/n? Do you come here with a car or something?”

“Me? Umm no. I took an Uber. I’m about to order one actually.” You say to him as you unlock your smartphone.

“Hey, I can take you home. I mean, like give you a ride. If you okay with it. Umm I have a car. There.” He points to a black Honda Civic.

You almost turn down his offer but you stomach growls rather loudly that he can hear it too.

“Sorry. I-“ you quickly apologized. Your face goes hot, feeling embarrassed.

Dan chuckles. “Come on. I take you to a kebab stall. Do you eat kebab?”

You nod. The image of the freshly cooked kebab is more than enough to make you drool. It has been hours since you eaten anything.

Meanwhile, Bucky and Natasha just got home from their date. Hands intertwined, the Avengers couple walk inside the building, smile on their faces. Happy to get to spend some time together and be intimate as a couple.

“Hey, guys.” Bucky greets his fellow team mates who are chilling in the common room.

“Hey, lovebirds.” Wanda winks at them, happy to see the perfect match together.

“Where’s Stev-?” Bucky is about to ask about his best friend’s whereabout before the Captain comes in with a few stacks of Oreos in his hands.

“Hey, Buck. You should inform me that you went out with Natasha. I called you a couple of times before Wanda told me.”

Bucky and Natasha chuckle.

“I’m sorry, Steve. I took my boyfriend away from you.” Natasha teases Steve who just shakes his head, bringing the Oreos to Wanda.

Bucky reaches for his phone in his pocket, checking his notifications. He realizes he has put his phone on silent, doesn’t want to be interrupted during his dinner date with his girl. He sees Steve’s name on his phone and he feels sorry for making his friend worried about him for a while. But when he sees your name, he stops.

Natasha notices the changes in her partner, with a soft voice she asks him, afraid Bucky is having an episode. “Hey, baby. Is everything alright?”

“y/n called me?” he says, eyes not leaving the phone screen.

“Yes, she did when you were going to the bathroom. I’m sorry I didn’t tell-”

“Why? Why you didn’t tell me? What did she say?” Bucky panics but mostly frustrated.

He sees the time when you called him. A quarter past seven. He can’t help but to think how disappointed you must be knowing he couldn’t make it to the concert with you. Disappointed because he breaks the promise.

“She said everything is fine and that’s it. I thought it wasn’t important.” Natasha explains, trying to calm Bucky down.

“Shit. I need to see her. Now.”

Without waiting for any comment, Bucky leaves the compound, driving his way to your house. Natasha and the other members just stare at the door, too shocked with Bucky’s sudden outburst. Steve comes to comfort her.

“It is not your fault, Nat. It just… they are having some issues. Bucky has been trying to fix it but y/n seems to push him away. It makes him more frustrated.”

On the way to your place, Bucky’s mind full with the image of you being sad and crying. Probably like the other night. Fuck, he hates it. Why fate is doing this to him? Is this the price he has to pay for what he has done in the past? He can’t have anything good and pure. The world makes sure of it.

A loud knock makes you jump in your sit, with a confused look, you walk to the door. Your cat comes purring at your feet. You look down at the adorable creature.

“It is okay. We are okay.”

You slowly open the door, afraid that the noise coming from your house has interrupted one of your neighbours. But you gasp when you see the only person you least expected.

“Bucky?”

“Doll?” he steps inside, rushing into you, holding your arms.

His hold is too tight, you hiss in pain. You can feel like he is not wanting to let you go, like if he let go of you, you will disappear. Completely.

“Buck” you whimper his name.

He feels glad to hear you call him with that name again. It might kill him if he hears you call him James but as he looks at you, he realized the pressure he puts on you.

“Sorry, sweetheart. Ar-are you okay?” he finally let go of you but his eyes still not leaving your body. Checking you, from head to toe.

“Why are you here, Bucky?” you keep your hands to yourself, crossing them across your chest.

“I want to say sor-”

“Hey, y/n. Is everything okay?”

Bucky looks up to the source of the voice. A man’s voice. He gets furious when he sees a man, a half naked man standing in front of your bedroom door.

“Who the hell are you?” Bucky asks, his tone is not as sweet nor friendly as you used to hear coming from him.

“That’s Dan. He is my friend.”

“Just friend? Why he is shirtless? In your room?”

You roll your eyes, knowing where this conversation will go by the look in Bucky’s eyes.

“Go home Bucky. Natasha is going to be worried about you.” You push him towards your door. You can’t deal with him. Not right now.

“You didn’t answer my question, y/n.” Bucky growls, anger in his eyes.

“You have no rights to know that Bucky. I’m not your girlfriend. So, fuck off!” you slam the door in his face.

You are not going to let him ruin tonight. You are doing just fine without him. Why he has to come here and ruin everything? Why Bucky? Why? This is not how you plan your night to be.

You feel a hand around your shoulder, “Hey, y/n. It is okay.” Dan soothes you, bringing you closer to his body.

“I’m sorry” you say. Your voice is low. “For everything. For giving me free ticket. For staying by my side for a solid an hour and half, For driving me all the way here. For spilling hot tea on you. For ruining your shirt. For making you witness and involve in the stupid drama. For comfortin-” you ramble, tears are almost coming down.

“Hey, it is okay. I’m doing all that because I want to. Don’t apologize. It’s okay. I’m here.” Dan continues to comfort you, rubbing small circles on your back.

“Thanks, Dan.” You say as you close your eyes, a single tear comes down on your cheek.

Part 6

Tagging: @mizz-kraziii @queenoftrash97 @fran-writes @amindfulloffanfictions @grosskyjaja @v-2bucky @jaysaku @ria132love @lovely-geek @shamvictoria11 @whiw0lf @swtmckngbrd @shadowblack1 @inkedhalfblood @photography-to-all @themoonandherstuff @hadesgirl1015 @killjoynotes @all-the-fand0ms @dogdadbucky @multireality @wtfholland @dream45sworld

[bucklesomeswashswan]

Once Upon a December (3/10)

Summary: Emma doesn’t remember much of her past, all she knows is she needs to get out of Misthaven. The mysterious group called the Industrialists continues to gain power and control since they overthrew the royal family over a decade ago. Out of options, Emma joins forces with a conman Killian and his partner Ruby in their plot to pass her off as the lost princess of Misthaven. But as they travel together and Killian and Ruby try to teach her how to be a princess, Emma begins to uncover hidden pieces of her past. When threats start closing in around them will she choose to escape to safety or risk everything to find her family and reveal a dangerous secret that could change history forever?

Rating:  M

Story content warning: some descriptions of violence, slow burn

Part of @captainswanbigbang 2018. Updates every Saturday!

Chapter 1  | Chapter 2 also read it on AO3

Check out the artwork for this fic by the impossibly talented @prongsie! 

Thanks again to everyone reading and following along with this story! This chapter’s a bit of a long one so grab a snack before diving in! xx 

Chapter 3:  Through a Silver Storm

The castle faded, lost behind the rooftops as Emma followed Killian and Ruby along the narrow streets. They seemed to be weaving a path known only to them, following sidewalks for a stretch only to duck down an alley, and then turn down another street, turn after turn, until Emma was completely disoriented.

All around them the city was alive, humming, and so different from the countryside she knew. It had been reborn with all the innovation of the Industrialists. Everywhere their inventions and influence could be seen. Each a cog in the machine of their control.

As they made their way away from the central district of the city the buildings and scenery changed. The wide avenues lined with trees by the castle gave way to streets lined with stores. Each with a window hawking their wares. Some with the latest fashions, beautifully embroidered fabrics and lace. Others were for smiths and butchers. And then there were some with complicated machines, gears and intricate arms all moving on their own. She had paused to watch to them for a moment. It was like nothing she had ever seen. She knew these were the stores managed by the Industrialists, all of them part of the Industrial Guild. It was so hard to believe that these stores filled with such wonders were connected to all the stories of corruption and terror.

But eventually the stores also became fewer and when they crossed a small canal they were surrounded by tall residential buildings pressed in close with barely any space between them. Clothes hung from lines strung over the curving streets. Here children in frayed clothes laughed and ran ducking around them. The air of poverty hung thickly here, but it was softened by the sense of community and routine. The scolds of mothers that could be heard, the rhythm of the broom as a withered man swept his stoop, and the smells of dozens of dinners being made in the apartments stacked on either side of them.

Both Killian and Ruby seemed to relax a little as they moved farther into the slums, their pace slowing a little. They didn’t seem to fit, their clothes too fine and too clean, their faces too unlined compared to those that looked up as they passed. Even so, the people on the streets didn’t seem surprised or unnerved by the pair that didn’t seem to belong, in fact one man dropped a nod to them as they passed.

Emma’s feet were aching when their pace finally slowed by an unmarked door. It looked like any of the other worn and crooked doors that lined the street. She eyed it warily.

“This is us,” Killian said to her.

Ruby turned the handle, giving the door a bit of nudge with her shoulder before it gave with a groan.

Killian gestured for Emma to follow. She hesitated just a second before carefully stepping into the room beyond. She had been expecting them to have lead her back to their home, but this seemed to be a mix of someone’s living room and a pub. There was a small rectangular table that had mugs lined up along it, and two large kegs stood beside it. The rest of the space was scattered with mismatched armchairs and stools around empty barrels flipped to act as tables.

There were only a few people in the place but they all looked up when she entered. Their eyes sweeping over the three of them before turning impassively away.

“What are we doing here?” Emma whispered to Killian beside her.

He looked down at her with a half smile before placing a hand at her back directing her toward the kegs. “We’re meeting a friend.”

“Friend?” she repeated glancing back over to the figures in the room. None of the wary looks shot in their direction seemed even vaguely ‘friendly.’

Killian followed her gaze and chuckled. “Not one of them, he’s much more of a scoundrel than that bunch.”

Emma tensed, the group in the corner looked somewhat, she struggled for the right word, unsavory. Each of them had sharp eyes that burned with a particular danger. The kind of men she had learned over the years to give a wide berth.

“Scoundrel?” a voice repeated behind her. “Surely you must be talking about yourself, Jones.”

Emma turned to the newcomer. He was older than she was, his face just starting to show the years and there was a touch of grey to the hair at his temples. But he seemed to fit in this place better than Killian or Ruby. His clothes made from less showy, more sturdy, practical fabrics. His brown hair was swept back, and his eyes were kind and framed with fine lines that deepened as his smile widened.

“I pride myself on being a gentleman,” the man said with a small bow, gently taking Emma’s hand and pressing a kiss to her knuckles.

Emma stood frozen looking up at him, but Killian bristled beside her. “Okay, that’s enough,” he said taking half a step between them. “You’re hardly a gentleman anymore, Robin.”

Robin dropped her hand before looking at Killian. “Closer to a gentleman than you’ve ever been,” he shot back and though his tone was playful Emma caught a glimpse of Killian’s scowl as he turned away.

“Forgive me, miss. In all this squabbling we haven’t been properly introduced. I am Robin Locksley. ”

“I’m Emma,” she said.

His eyes flickered from her eyes to her hair and then to Killian. “Is that so?”

Killian cleared his throat. “Actually that’s why we’re here, we’ve got a job.”

Robin’s eyes scanned the room until they landed on Ruby. He smirked. “Should have known.”

As if on cue, Ruby made her way over to them. “Robin,” she greeted passing him a mug of ale.  

“Ruby,” he murmured in return. “Didn’t think I’d be seeing you again so soon.”

“I’m afraid we need you,” she told him.

Robin looked at her carefully. “Never known you to be afraid, Ruby,” he said softly.

Emma noticed that neither Killian nor Ruby commented on his remark and after a moment Robin let out a sigh.

“Fine. Come on, let’s take a seat,” he said waving them toward a table in the corner. “I’m sure I’m going to need to be sitting to listen to any half-baked idea from the two of you.”

Killian only rolled his eyes and Robin dropped a wink to Emma before taking a large sip of ale, and she struggled to untangle exactly what the nature of their relationship was.

The table Robin chose was far enough from the others that they wouldn’t be overheard. Emma slid into one of the chairs, Killian taking the one next to her.

“So what is it this time?” Robin asked looking between them. “Not another airship I hope? Did you hear about the docks today? Roland was down there, heavens knows what would have happened if he had-”

“It’s not an airship,” Ruby said cutting him off. “It’s not our usual type of job.”

Robin’s gaze drifted to Emma over the rim of his mug.

“Not their usual type of job indeed,” he said. “So how do you figure into this? I’ve never seen you before and Killian and Ruby don’t make friends easily.”

“I-” Emma faltered glancing at Killian not sure exactly what their story was supposed to be.

“We need to cross the border,” Ruby said before Emma could finish. Robin choked on his drink.

“Oh, is that all?” he asked dryly pounding himself in the chest.

Ruby leaned forward. “We both know you can do it.”

Robin frowned. “Why not just use your fancy forged documents?” he asked nodding to Killian, “You’ve got the best bloody forger in the city, you don’t need me.”

Emma glanced at Killian a little surprised. He was the best forger in the city? How had he managed to avoid being arrested by the industrialists.

“It’s more complicated than that,” Killian said. “And after the raid on the docks this morning the normal crossings are going to be on lockdown.”

“We need another way over the border. We need the merry men,” Ruby said. Robin seemed to go still in a moment, like a deer in the forest.

“Now why would I endanger my own people for a half-assed job like this?” he asked her.

It was a fair question and Ruby opened and shut her mouth twice, her eyes casting around for some answer to give before they landed on Emma.  

“She’s got coin,” Ruby told him.

“Wha- wait-” Emma started but Ruby cut her off with a sharp look.

“This wouldn’t be cheap. For a few of the lads, it would take at least….” Robin trailed off as if trying to find a sum high enough.

“Twenty silver,” Killian said.

Robin’s eyebrows raised. “Is that an offer?”

“Yes.”

Robin laughed lowly, “Well then, let me see what I can do. Stay here, I’ll be in touch.” He rose from his chair and gathered up his jacket before disappearing out the back door.

As soon as Robin was gone Killian took a deep breath slumping back in his chair, rubbing at his eyes.

“Twenty silver?” Ruby hissed at him. “Where in all of hell are we going to get that?”

“Emma has it,” he replied without looking up.

Emma stiffened as Ruby turned to her.

“What? What would make you think that?” Emma asked.

Killian looked over at her locking her in place with his gaze. “Because you offered us eight silver just for papers. Surely someone as intelligent as you’ve proved to be wouldn’t have bargained everything you had for just the papers,” he said before adding, “And you showed us your purse.”

Emma scoffed. “Oh, and you can tell how much was in it just by looking at it?”

Killian shrugged. “I’m a criminal, darling.”

Emma scowled. In that moment she hated his knowing smirk, hated all of it, but most of all she hated that he was right.

“How long is Robin going to be?” Emma asked impatiently.

Killian shut his eyes again and made no indication he had heard her though his hand seemed to drift to the pocket watch tucked into his waistcoat. His fingers lingered over the lump in his pocket as if he longed to hold it. She didn’t know what was stopping him. Perhaps it wasn’t even a conscious thought, simply a force of habit, a gesture he didn’t even realize he was making.

“Could be awhile,” Ruby said, her fingers absently pulling at one of the curls in her hair.

“What are we supposed to do while we wait?” Emma asked.

Ruby fixed her a unreadable expression before a smirk pulled slowly at her lips. “Well, I never like to waste an opportunity,” she said cryptically as she stood up and smoothed her skirts like a parrot preening its feathers.

Emma watched a little dumbfounded as she floated off making her way over to the other occupied tables. She watched as Ruby leaned over in a flirtatious way and started talking to the men there. It was only a minute before she was slipping into an empty chair at their table with a laugh, settling her chin on her hand as she gave a small flutter to her eyelashes.

Emma turned to Killian. “Is she…?”

“Yes,” he said his eyes still closed.

“Does she-”

“She does whatever she wants,” he said. He didn’t seem at all concerned.

“I thought you two were… together,” Emma said a little awkwardly.

That made him look over at her curiously. “Ruby and I?” he asked and then chuckled. “No, not like that.”

Emma glanced back at Ruby across the room and watched her chat with the men around the table.

“That’s one of her favorite ways to get information,” Killian told her. “A few of those men work on the docks, they’ll have information on the riots this afternoon.”

Emma turned back to him. “Those riots, how often do they happen?”

“It’s happening more frequently now,” he said. “It’s going to make this whole thing more of a nightmare.”

“Those people, they were only taking food and supplies,” she said.

He perked up, straightening in his chair. “You saw it. You were at the docks?”

She pursed her lips realizing her mistake. Stupid. She shouldn’t have said that.

He pinned her in place with his gaze. “You knew my name,” he said piecing it together. “In the castle.”

She didn’t say anything.

“Who told you where to find me?” his voice was cold steel.

“Killian, I-” she stammered.

He leaned forward. “Who sent you? Who are you working for?”

“It was a boy, just a boy. I didn’t... “ she said the words falling over each other.

The accusation in his tone and expression making her desperate to reassure him. “He told me where to find you.”

“What boy?” he demanded.

“I don’t know his name. He was about ten, curly brown hair, talkative.”

Killian seemed to relax a little. “Roland,” he muttered casting his eyes to the ceiling.

“You know him? Who is he?” Emma asked.

Killian gave a long-suffering sigh as he said, “He’s Robin’s son, of course.”

Emma bit back a smile, of course. Now she could almost see the resemblance, in looks and character. “He was pretty fond of you,” she told him.

Killian glanced at her before a small smirk pulled at his lips at the mention of the boy. And for a moment he had a look of genuine affection before he quickly hid it behind his mug as took a long drink.

“You seem close with Robin,” Emma observed.

“We’ve worked together in the past.”

“For some scheme or another I’m sure,” she said.

Killian seemed bemused by her response. “If you had such an aversion to criminals then you shouldn’t have searched them out.”

Emma was about to shoot back that she hadn’t searched him out, but she had. In fact, she had been so desperate to find him she had broken into an old castle. And again she hated him for being right. She had a feeling it was something he made a habit of,

“Well it was seemed like my only choices were criminals or Industrialists. And it didn’t seem like the blackguards would have taken my money,” she said.

“The Industrialists would gladly take your money, love, but you wouldn’t get much in return.” Killian rubbed at his left wrist as though the hand under the glove he wore was bothering him.

Emma caught the motion. “Are you hurt?” she asked.

His hand immediately dropped from his wrist as though he hadn’t realized he had been touching it. He glanced at her quickly before giving a half shrug. “It’s nothing,” he said offhandedly. “Just an old wound.”

"Doesn’t seem like nothing,” she said.

He seemed to sense she wasn’t going to let it go. Emma watched as he pulled on the fingertips of the glove easing it off revealing not skin and flesh but an intricate metal mechanical hand. Each finger a complicated working of gears and working joints. He clenched and straightened them as if to show her. She stared. It was a miracle, responding to his thoughts and commands as if it were bone and muscle.

“What happened?” she breathed.

He glanced up at the pity in her voice. He pulled the glove back on carefully. “Had a bit of a run in with the blackguards years ago,” he said.

Emma stared, she tried to imagine how something described as ‘a bit of a run in’ would result in the loss of his hand. She remembered the people at the dock, the way they fled from the blackguards, the screams, she was beginning to understand all the fear they seemed to inspire.

She struggled for something to say. But she was spared from having to make any response by a sudden thud as a man bumped into their table as he passed. All the mugs danced and clattered on the surface, her hands leaping out to keep them from falling.

“Careful,” Killian said the words almost a growl as he half rose from his chair, his hands steadying the table.

The man gave them barely a glance before continuing on his way and out the door. Emma wiped up the drops of spilled ale scattered across the tabletop. Killian slowly sank back into his seat not paying any mind to the mess on the table.

Emma glanced over to ask him for help when she noticed him worrying a small piece of paper between his fingers. She was sure it hadn’t been there a minute ago.

“Wait,” she whispered catching on, “did he pass that to you?”

Killian opened his hand and passed the slip paper to her. Emma unrolled it and read the hurried handwriting.

Whispering Tree. Midnight.

“What’s it mean?” she asked him, but he shook his head.

“Not here.”

Emma glanced around the dim room. It was that contradiction again. The criminal dressed like a gentleman. The house that wasn’t a house but a tavern. A place to meet a friend and a room of possible enemies. Like everyone in the city he seemed to be always wary, even of those most like him. Maybe especially wary of those most like him.

Killian stood, catching Ruby’s eye across the room. Emma quickly gathered her things and followed him out the door into the winter air on the street. There were small snowflakes falling lazily in the air and collecting along the edges of the cobblestones. She pulled her cloak closer around her.

“So what does it mean? The whispering tree? Is that a place? Another tavern?” she asked as Ruby joined them outside.

Ruby caught Killian’s eye giving him a small nod which he returned. Emma didn’t know what it meant, a signal? A greeting? It was so natural to them and so foreign to her, it made her feel suddenly alone.

“The whispering tree,” Ruby said in answer to her question, “is in the woods west of the city. It’s said to have grown from the body of a powerful wizard. People claim it whispers to those who are worthy, those who have magic.”

“People just hear the wind moving through the branches,” Killian said dismissively.

Ruby cast a glance at him before shaking her head. “Some people still believe in the power of magic and the old ways,” she said.

Killian waved her off. “Some people will believe in anything to ignore the terrible world around them.”

“Don’t mind him, he’s just grumpy” she said to Emma before turning to Killian. “What time is the meeting?”

“Midnight.”

Ruby beamed. “Perfect that leaves plenty of time for shopping. We’ll need a few things for our trip. And Emma needs a coat, she can’t go trekking across the country in that.”

Emma glanced down at herself in surprise. Sure, she knew her clothes weren’t luxurious or grand, they certainly weren’t as nice as Ruby’s, but they were fine for her.

“Actually, I did travel across the country in this,” Emma muttered.

Ruby raised an eyebrow looking her over. “Yeah, I can tell,” she said. “But I don’t think it’s going to survive another such journey.”

“Ruby,” Killian warned. “You know the rules. We don’t want to attract attention. Nothing suspicious.”

“We won’t be suspicious,” Ruby said. “You worry too much.”

“We’ve already promised most of our money to Robin,” he reminded her.

“I know,” Ruby said. “I won’t spend much.”

Killian didn’t seem like he believed her, but all he said was, “Don’t be late.”

He looked between the two of them his eyes lingering on Emma. She thought he might say something more but Ruby had already looped her arm through Emma’s and was pulling her down the street. She glanced back to see Killian looking after them.

“Really, Ruby, it’s fine, I don’t need a new coat.”

“Please,” Ruby scoffed. “Don’t argue, you won’t win.”

It turned out shopping did not mean in the shops on the avenues she had seen earlier. Instead they went to a warehouse in what seemed to be a part of the city dedicated manufacturing.

Ruby had opened the dingy door and winked at the guard just inside handing him a few bronze coins. He didn’t seem at all alarmed as she walked by and began perusing the shelves and racks of clothes. Emma followed a little more cautiously.

“This is shopping?” Emma asked Ruby.

Ruby looked thunderstruck, pity in her eyes. “Have you really never been shopping?” she asked in a quiet tone like she was afraid to know the answer.

Emma scowled. “Of course I’ve been shopping,” she said.

Ruby seemed to relax but still her eyes drifted over her clothes as if it was somehow sadder to know that Emma had paid for them.

“This,” Emma continued gesturing around, “this seems more like stealing.”

Ruby shrugged stuffing something from the shelves into her bag. “I paid the man at the door. Money exchanged for goods. Is that not the definition of shopping?”

She continued to move down the row picking up a few pairs of mittens and shoving them into her bag.

Emma figured ‘shopping’ wouldn’t be the only thing for which they had different definitions. She wondered how many others would come to light during their time together. Ruby picked up an intricately embroidered handbag inspecting it carefully before placing it back on the shelf. Emma certainly had found interesting companions.

“Have you not found anything you like?” Ruby asked as she packed a thick shawl into her bag.

Emma glanced around trying to spot something among the racks that resembled a cloak. In the end she found a new skirt and a thick brushed wool cloak in a charcoal gray that was both warm and soft. She had looked at a row of boots, running her hands over the smooth leather and thick soles, but she decided it probably wasn’t smart to try to break in a new pair of boots on a long trip. Her worn pair would have to make it across the border, perhaps when they got to Glowerhaven they would be able to find something new for her.

Emma had thought she was making quick work as she moved through the warehouse but when Ruby found her she had only a small pile of fabric in her hands. Ruby’s own bag was bursting with things.

“Is that all you need?” she asked eyeing the small stack of clothes Emma had doubtfully.

Emma nodded. “I think so.”

Ruby pursed her lips for a moment before shrugging. “Okay, well I got you some things anyway so we should be okay. Let’s go.”

The guard did not even glance up as they walked out with armfuls of goods.

They met up with Killian after dark. He had his own large bag slung over his shoulders. Emma wondered what things he had gathered. Was it practical, like all the scarves and gloves Ruby had picked, or was it more sentimental? She could tell he liked to stay hidden behind his high walls, but already she had seen glimpses of the man underneath. The way he chose to stay in a castle that was a touchstone to a way of life now gone, the way he still worried at the hand he had lost, and she was willing to bet that his pocket watch had some significance to him too. It was all small clues into his mystery. She had always been good at seeing lies, but still it was the truth he seemed almost desperate to hide that made her nervous.

“Ready?” He asked them.

Emma wasn’t sure she would ever be ready. Dreaming about one day leaving Misthaven and actually setting out on a path to do just that seemed very different all of a sudden.

Ruby nodded beside her and that seemed to be all Killian was waiting for. He turned and led the way toward the edge of the city.

They made their way west down smaller roads until the city gave way to forest. The trees here were different from those she had known in the rolling hills of the southern countryside. Here the trees grew from snarled trunks that stretched into long tangling branches. It obscured her view of everything around them. Without the small path she was sure they would have gotten lost.

“Do you come out to the woods often?” Emma asked softly, afraid to disrupt the eerie calm around them.

“No,” Killian said his eyes moving warily between the trees.

Ruby snickered. “He’s afraid of the woods.”

Killian straightened a little but he didn’t argue or stop his careful watch of the trees.

As Emma had traveled north to the city she had watched the moon fill a little more each night until just last night it had been full, but this deep in the forest she could only catch glimpses of it. And what little light filtered through the thick canopy created strange and shifting shadows that made her jump several times.

At last the path led them to a small clearing. She breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be out from under the trees even just for a little while. As she got closer Emma saw there was actually a large tree in the center of the clearing. It looked old, older than the others in the forest. The trunk was covered in twisted knots and the branches bent and hung at odd angles, some had even broken and fallen on the ground.

“Is that it?” Emma asked. “The whispering tree?” It wasn’t exactly what she had been expecting.

Killian nodded. “Yeah, that’s it.” He looked slightly nervous.

“Where’s Robin?” she asked scanning the clearing.

Killian pulled the pocket watch out from his vest, flipping it open. He tilted it to read it in the moonlight. “It’s not quite midnight. We’re early.”

Emma walked slowly around the clearing as they waited. She found herself straying closer and closer to the ancient tree. Up close it wasn’t quite so menacing. Just another tree in any other forest. She repeated that in her mind as she reached out to touch the rough bark on the trunk.

“I wouldn’t do that,” Ruby called from behind her.

Emma paused but didn’t pull away. It was just a tree and she hardly believed in any local superstition. After too many years of broken hopes and hardships, there wasn’t much Emma believed in anymore.

She certainly didn’t believe in magic. Sure, she had heard the stories, and once she had even seen a fortune teller at a carnival reading people’s futures. But it was all tricks meant to take advantage of gullible people. There was no real magic, people made their own luck, everyone decided their own fate.

She wondered if meeting Killian, Ruby, and Robin was fate. When they made it across the border she wouldn’t be coming back. Everything she had known her whole life, all of it would be gone. She would be a refugee, an outsider everywhere they went. The finality had struck her a few times already, but with each step her anxiety grew. She closed her eyes taking a deep breath before reaching out, her fingertips pressing into the tree. An old strength beneath its ancient bark.

At first she didn’t even notice it, or maybe she thought it was just the wind through the trees. A soft sound around her. But then she realized there was no breeze, the air around her perfectly still. And still she could hear a buzzing. No, it was more like she could sense it, feel it deep within her. A hum, a murmur. A small whisper that was growing louder.

She jerked away from the tree stumbling back a few steps. She swung around expecting to see Killian or Ruby there playing a trick on her, but they were yards away.

“Did you hear that?” she called to them.

They both turned to look at her. Killian’s eyes swept over the trees at the boundary of the clearing. Emma realized they thought she meant she heard someone coming.

“No, the humming,” she said.

Ruby shook her head. “It’s been quiet.”

Emma frowned but tried to shake it off, it was just a legend, and why would she have been able to hear anything anyway?

“There you are,” Robin called out from the trees. “Should have known you’d be early.”

Emma squinted into the darkness in the direction of his voice. She was glad for the interruption, she didn’t want to dwell on the humming from the tree. Robin emerged from a different path than they had taken, and he wasn’t alone. A group of four other men followed him out into the clearing each of them leading two horses.

Robin shook Killian’s hand and gave Ruby a small kiss on the cheek before he turned to her. “Pleasure to see you again, Miss Emma.”

She gave him a smile in return. The noise and bustle of more people and horses was comforting and it filled the clearing, drowning out any other sounds that she might have heard.

“Horses?” she asked looking at the animals. The forest hardly seemed a good place for even the most sure-footed horse.

Robin smirked. “We’ve got a day to get to the border, and this is our best option.”

“A day?” Ruby asked.

Robin nodded. “There’s a train leaving. It’s stopping in Steveston and then it will cross the border toward Glowerhaven. It’s the last train for the month.”

Emma frowned. “What about taking an airship?” she asked. The others turned to her, a range of expressions on their faces.

“Airships aren’t an option,” Robin said. “The blackguards have already seized all docked airships and halted any further air trade. It seems Gold is really cracking down on the raids this time. The roads through the mountains are being watched, none of our people have returned from the mountains for two months now. The train is our only option, and the train tomorrow is the only train.”

Killian ran a hand over his face. “Bloody hell.”

“What you don’t like trains?” Robin asked.

Killian frowned. “No, I don’t like poorly thought out plans.”

Robin grinned. “You get what you pay for, mate.”

Emma still couldn’t shake the uneasiness she felt. This wasn’t going as she had imagined it. Each new part of the plan left her feeling more out of step, vulnerable, and disoriented.

“Aren’t you worried about the horses in the woods?” she asked. “There has to be a better way. Maybe one of those mechanical carriages?”

She thought of the carriages she had seen on the streets. With the forest pressing in around them being safely seated in one of those seemed like an attractive option.

Ruby, who had already been stroking one of the bay mares answered. “The industrialists can track any of their own technology.”

Emma frowned. In all she had heard about the Industrialists she had never heard that. Maybe it was a secret they didn’t tell the public. She wondered how much of their control she had been ignorant of.

“The industrialists used their power to force out anyone not in their guild,” Robin explained noticing her expression. “They shut down any manufacturing they didn’t control. It was a way to manipulate prices and profits, and power.”

“And now all technology has been made by them,” Emma concluded solemnly.

Robin nodded. “And so now they can track it and use it to spy on people.”

“That isn’t fair,” she said.

“It isn’t supposed to be fair, it’s meant to make it easier to control people,” Killian said.

“Why didn’t anyone stop them?” Emma asked frustrated that everyone just allowed anyone like that to seize power.

Ruby shook her head. “The Royals tried, but by the time anyone realized what was going on, well, you know how that ended.”

Emma clenched her teeth. Shouldn’t the royal family have had advisers, experts, someone to warn them? Perhaps they had, or maybe they had been in on it. She wondered if corruption had been as widespread then as it was now. Maybe the perfect, idyllic vision she had always had of the way her country used to be was just a fantasy.

“In any case, from here we have to be invisible to them. The blackguards are ruthless so you better hope to hell we don’t get a patrol of them following us,” Robin said adjusting the reins on his horse. “Since they can’t track horses, it’s our best chance they won’t see us coming.”

Emma glanced over to Killian. “What about your hand, or the pocket watch? Can they track those?”

Killian looked a little surprised. “They can’t track my hand,” he said the mechanical fingers clinking as he adjusted a strap, but he didn’t elaborate further.

“And the watch?” she asked.

He met her gaze for a moment before answering. “The watch wasn’t made by them, it belonged to my brother.”

She filed away that small piece of information about him. Slowly he extended the reins of one the horses to her, a truce.

She gave him a weak smile in return. The horse was a large black gelding. He was beautiful, with a wide face and deep brown eyes. He leaned into the hand she extended. She rubbed her hand down over his neck.

It took a few minutes for everyone to get ready and mounted. Robin took up the lead heading deeper into the woods. Emma looked one more time at the whispering tree in the clearing before giving her horse a nudge and starting off after the others.

The first mile or two was stressful as she worked to get her balance and anticipate any changes in his gait. Luckily her horse seemed to be sure-footed and better at seeing in the dark than she was. She decided to trust him to navigate.

Their group rode for several hours, the merry men taking shifts leading the way and covering the rear. She almost didn’t notice when they came to a stop.

“That’s the way to Tower Falls,” the man at the front called pointing up a path branching off from theirs. “I say we camp here tonight, we don’t want to enter fairy territory until daylight.”

Emma turned to look back at Robin who urged his horse up to the front. “Will’s right,” Robin said looking at Killian who was scowling at Will. “We’ll stop here. Everyone get some rest for a few hours.”

Killian seemed hesitant, pulling Robin aside to speak with him. His words were too low for Emma to hear but his tone was rushed and he was gesturing up the path. Robin laid a hand on his arm saying something that must have placated him because Killian didn’t protest further. Emma found herself unconsciously taking her cues from Killian, if he had decided to part with the Merry Men or ride off into the night she realized she would have followed. Luckily for her, he turned to unload his pack from his horse instead.

Emma rubbed her hands together, her finger stiff from the cold air. There was no point wishing for an inn, she hadn’t expected one, typically fugitives escaping in secret across closed borders didn’t have elaborate accommodations. But no amount of rational thinking could make her excited for a night out in the open in the middle of an enchanted forest with the temperature dropping and a storm coming if the clouds blocking out the stars were any indication. Already snowflakes were starting to float down around them.The night was going to be neither comfortable nor restful.

A few of the Merry Men whose names she didn’t know started a small fire for them to gather around. But no matter how many logs they added to the flames or how close she moved, it did nothing to take any of the chill from the air.

“You all settled in?” Robin asked as she spread out one of her blankets on the ground and wrapped another snugly around herself.

Emma nodded. “I suppose,” she said. “I’m a little afraid I’m going to freeze if I try to sleep.”

“We have a few tricks to prevent that.” He reached out to grab a mug sitting on the edge of the fire that she hadn’t even noticed. He passed it to her.

She gave him a nod of thanks as she wrapped her fingers around the mug to warm her aching fingers. “What is it?” she asked him eyeing the liquid inside.

“It’s tea,” he told her.

She took a sip savoring the warmth and then swallowed with a cough, her throat burning, and not just from the temperature.

“There’s a little whiskey in it as well,” Robin told her with a smirk.

She coughed again. “Thanks for the warning,” she grumbled but he seemed unashamed as he grabbed a mug for himself from where it was warming.

“You didn’t seem like a girl who couldn’t handle liquor,” he said.

Her brows pulled down. “What kind of a girl do I seem like?” she asked him

He took a hearty gulp, clearly not minding the alcohol. “You remind me of someone I met long ago,” he said. “Back when I was a country lord.”

“A lord?” Emma asked in surprise.

“Seems a hundred years ago. I used to spend my days hunting and hosting dignitaries. Now I can barely keep a roof over my own head or protect my family.”

The word family jarred her, an old wound of her own. Robin seemed to notice the small flinch.

“I can’t remember my family. I’m leaving Misthaven in the hopes of finding them,” she said. She couldn’t tell him everything but it was the short and simple version of the truth, and she had learned over the years that the short and simple truth was the easiest lie.

Robin gave a solemn nod. “A noble endeavor,” he said. “But that doesn’t explain how you managed to get Killian and Ruby to follow you.”

Emma shook her head. “No, they’re leading me.”

“Are they?” Robin asked.

Emma looked across the fire at where Killian and Ruby were sitting. They seemed to be bickering over mugs of tea.

“It’s a funny thing,” Robin said, “I’ve never seen them take an interest in anyone like this before. It seems there is something special about you. It seems we all sense it.”

Emma glanced over at him. He was watching her steadily, in a knowing way. It was as if he could simply look at her and see the truth. It was a less intrusive feeling than the way Killian looked at her and seemed to know her thoughts, her past, her secrets, but still it set her nerves on edge.

“There’s nothing special about me,” she said.

He pursed his lips and gave a small shake of his head. “Your name is Emma. You’re close in age so you must have been named after the Princess. Someone clearly thought you were special.”

Emma nearly dropped the mug of tea. His words, his mention of the Princess hitting a little too close to the mark.

“This doesn’t have anything to do with the Princess,” she said but there was a small quaver in her voice. “I don’t have anything to do with the Princess. That’s not why they’re leaving.”

“Really?” he asked. “Because I have known Killian for years, I know how he thinks. You have similar features to the Princess. And I’ve heard rumors of the King and Queen and a reward for quite an outrageous amount of money which means Ruby would be interested. It’s simple arithmetic after that.”

Emma opened her mouth but he held up a hand stopping her.

“Your secret is safe with me, lass,” he said and she believed him. No hint of dishonesty in his eyes.

“So you think it’s true?” she asked him quietly. “You think the King and Queen might have escaped all those years ago and they’re living safely in Glowerhaven?”

If Robin could get people across the border and out of Misthaven then it stood to reason that things, information, from abroad had made its way back through him.

Robin seemed to think over the question before shrugging. “I suppose it’s a nice thought. There was more than enough murder during the revolt. There are people who think the royals deserved to die more than many who did. But really, what I’ve learned from that dark time was that no amount of killing made anything better so why wish it on anyone.”

“Do you blame the royals for what happened with the Industrialists?” Emma asked him.

Robin blew out a breath and shook his head. “Hate burns very hot and it is very hard to control. What was unleashed was a long time in the making, and maybe the royals should have done more to prevent the revolt, but the Industrialists only harnessed a rage in the people that was already festering. In the end I think we only have ourselves to blame.”

Growing up in the aftermath of the revolt, alone and with no memories she had seen the hate Robin was talking about. Seen it and never fully understood it.

Her eyes landed on Will, one of the Merry Men, the one who had insisted they make camp. He was absently fiddling with a ring on his finger but she had the distinct sense that he had just been watching her, even listening to their conversation.

“Get some rest, Emma,” Robin said patting her arm. “We’ll reach the border tomorrow, and we’re going to need our wits then.”

“Goodnight,” she said curling up and pulling her hood up over her head.

~*~

Ruby woke with a start, startled from sleep by a dream she couldn’t remember. She rubbed a hand over her eyes and down her cheek trying to gather herself. It was morning, the eastern sky gray with the earliest light. She looked around the group circling the fire that had burned down to embers.

One of Robin’s men was keeping watch just beyond where a few were still asleep. The snow was falling heavier now, piling up around them. There was a hiss from the fire as flakes landed on the glowing logs.

She found her gaze lingering on Emma, their new companion. It was a little strange to have someone new around. For so long it had been Killian and her, sometimes they worked with others like Robin and his men, but in the end it was always Killian and her. And now there was Emma. And now they were leaving Misthaven.

It was a lot to take in so quickly. She would have thought it would have taken a force of nature to move Killian from Misthaven, it turned out it only took the right girl and the right plan. Then again Emma had proven herself to be something of a force of nature.

They had only met the day before and still Ruby could tell Emma was smart and shrewd and cunning. And more than that she was kind and courageous. But she was also alone, wary, slow to trust, and full of secrets. Emma was a dangerous mystery, but she was also Ruby’s opportunity to start a new life.

The wind picked up through the trees stirring the snowflakes in swirls around her and a few hundred yards away a flock of birds startled and took flight. Ruby straightened and turned in that direction but it was hard to see anything through the thick trees.

Robin stood and gestured to his men, each of them coming to attention and spreading out into the trees. She watched them disappear into the shadows some pulling out pistols and daggers. Robin met her eyes before stamping out the fire and kicked dirt and snow over the ashes. Ruby started to push things into her bag figuring if the fire was out they wouldn’t be staying in place long no matter what had frightened the birds.

Killian moved across the circle to Emma laying a hand gently on her shoulder to wake her. She stirred beneath him as he spoke softly to her.

“What’s happening?” she heard Emma ask him.

“There’s something out there,” he told her helping her to sit. “With any luck it’s just a deer or some kind of animal.”

Emma frowned. “What else would it be?” she whispered.

“In these woods,” he said glancing at the trees around them, “could be fairies, or worse.”

Ruby clutched her bag closer. Fairies were crafty, devious creatures known for tricking people down dangerous paths or trapping them in hollow trees and starlit ponds. Over the years they had been driven deep into the forest and the dark places had turned them vicious.

One of the Merry Men burst from the trees onto the path hurrying toward them. “Blackguard patrol, headed this way,” he said between panting breaths.

Robin turned to them and opened his mouth but before he could speak a steam whistle sounded in the distance. Ruby turned toward the sound.

“The train,” she said.

“Go,” Robin said pointing into the trees. “Go, we’ll slow them down.”

“Robin, if the blackguards are tracking us-” Killian said quickly.

“We don’t have time to discuss this,” Robin said cutting him off. “We’ll stay here and pretend to be a hunting party. We can keep them distracted and give you time.”

Killian shook his head. “No, come with us. You’re on the lists, Robin, they won’t be lenient.”

Robin chuckled. “I’ve been on their lists for years and I’m still here. Not all of us need fancy forged documents to get someone to believe our stories,” he said.

“Robin,” Ruby implored him. “Please, come with us.”

“Come with you where?” he asked her. “My boy is here, I’m not leaving him.”

He passed a pistol to Killian and shook his hand. “Good luck, mate.”

“Stay safe,” Killian said tucking the pistol into his belt.

Robin gave Ruby a quick hug and gripped Emma’s hand pressing a small kiss to her knuckles. “Do me a favor and make that bloody train,” he said.

Together the three of them slipped between the trees and off the path where the Merry Men were arranging knapsacks and stringing bows and arrows to hold up their guise of a hunting party. Robin was kicking at the snow where they had been to hide their tracks and cover their escape.

“Come on,” Killian said pushing a path through the snow piled in the underbrush.

The whistle blew again still a ways off, the sound echoing in the crisp air. Ruby quickened her stride, her bag thudding against her back with each step throwing her off balance. She wondered how far they were from the tracks.

There was shouting from behind them, barely audible from the distance. A gunshot rang out and Killian skidded to a stop looking back the way they had come. Ruby grabbed his arm pulling at him.

“We have to go, Killian,” she said as she dragged him a step.

He pulled out of her grip. “Robin,” he said his eyes meeting her, pleading.

She shook her head hating the words even as she said them. “We can’t help them now. They would kill us too.”

The train horn sounded through the trees louder now. Ruby could now make out the rhythmic churning of the engine and the clacking of the wheels over the ties and rails.

Ruby glanced from the direction of the train to Killian. She could read the indecision in his eyes, the guilt at abandoning their friend. But with each second the train was rumbling closer, their window was closing.

Another gunshot rang out and Ruby paused. This one was different. It seemed closer. She turned in time to see something move in the woods. The next second the tree trunk beside her exploded as a bullet struck it sending bark and splinters and snow everywhere.

Ruby screamed throwing an arm over her head as she ducked. Then Killian’s arms were grabbing her and pulling her behind a large tree beside him.

Another few shots whizzed by them ricocheting off rocks and trees.

“We need to get on that damn train,” she said.

Killian pulled out the pistol Robin had given him and cocked the hammer. He turned to her. “Go, Ruby, take Emma. I’ll cover you.”

Ruby nodded tightening the strap of her bag before spotting Emma hiding behind another tree a few feet away. She pointed to Emma and then toward the noise of the train.

“Go,” Killian said giving her push.

Ruby hurtled from their cover and wove her way through the trees. She could hear shots hitting the trees around her. How could the blackguards have found them so fast? Had they not stopped to investigate Robin and the others? Had they not stopped for an explanation, simply eliminating anyone they found? Ruby pushed her legs to run a little faster pushing through the drifting snow.

They burst from the forest beside the train tracks just as the engine roared by. Ruby turned and sprinted along the side of the train watching the engine, coal car, and the first few cars slip past her as each of them outpaced her. Emma was a few steps ahead of her and Ruby watched as she reached out and gripped one of the handles of an unmarked train car. She pulled herself up wedging her feet into the rungs of the ladder beside the wide door and used her legs as leverage to inch the door open and swing inside.

“Come on, Ruby,” Emma called holding her hand out as Ruby reached for her, their fingers just brushing.

Ruby let out a yell as a bullet grazed her side, her skin burning. The pain made her stumble and lose a few steps. Emma’s hand pulled away and she ducked back into the train car. For a moment Ruby was afraid she was going to leave them, hide in the safety of the steel car and leave her and Killian to their fate. The train would take her across the border, and that was all Emma had wanted anyway.

But Emma reappeared a second later with a small six chambered revolver that must have been stashed in her things and pointed it over Ruby’s shoulder a hard look in her eye as she aimed.

Ruby sprinted the last few steps and grabbed the rung of the ladder just as Emma fired, the blast making her ears ring. Her side ached as she pulled herself up and into the train car beside Emma. She panted digging a finger into the torn fabric of her bodice where the bullet had torn it. She searched for blood or a gash but there was nothing but tender skin. A near miss.

Killian sprinted from the trees a moment later heading toward their car. He let Emma provide cover fire with her revolver as he concentrated on getting on board. Emma, it turned out, was a deadly shot. She knelt with the gun braced in her hands and fired expert shots at the blackguards who broke from the cover of the trees. Ruby wondered what sort of life she had lived in the country that had necessitated sharp shooting.

Killian was nearly there, breathing heavily and reaching out his hand for the ladder when one last blackguard appeared from the forest behind them. He lifted his gun aiming it right at Killian. Emma noticed him from her position and leveled her barrel at him lining up her shot before she squeezed the trigger. The gun only clicked lamely, she swore realizing too late it was empty.

“Emma,” Killian called as he gripped the ladder with his left hand and tossed up his own pistol which she caught as it arched in the air.

Killian pulled himself up toward the door when a shot rang out from the trees. Emma aimed firing back and the blackguard fell.

Ruby saw Killian’s hand slip on the rungs, his body slamming awkwardly against the metal side, his balance off. Her hand shot out to catch him and help him into the car. As soon as he was inside she slammed the wide door shut.

Ruby took a deep breath as the gunshots stopped. They had made it. They were safe. They were leaving Misthaven.

[davidmann95]

This weeks comics?

So much to cover, and just so we’re all clear upfront, SPOILERS ahead.

Sideways Annual #1: I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive the cover for simply reading “All-out Action, guest-starring Superman” rather than the declaration of “The Champion of the Oppressed is BACK–JUST WHEN THE WORLD NEEDS HIM MOST!” it demanded, but otherwise what a delightful comic. It’s a mess in so many ways given Morrison’s working with what DiDio laid down for him (which he seems to demonstrate hilarious contempt for when he almost literally drops a bridge on the no-hoper who’d been set up as the arc villain before he can do anything) and jumping on mid-stream to boot, but it’s basically just an extended excuse for him to put dialogue in Superman and the Seven Soldiers’ mouths again and remind everyone how rad his takes on them are, and thereby shame us for abandoning the former. Plus give us a taste of what his voice for Spider-Man would be, which it turns out is a perfectly fine one in spite of his past professed skepticism that he could pull it off. And above all to assure us with a smile and the proper send-off (a particularly satisfying one for me personally given my arachnophobia) we never got before that even if we never see our pal cop-punching, bank-busting, casual Fridays Superman again, he’ll be out there, along with all the other cast-off good Superman ideas, helping out wherever he can.

Also, who else caught the nudge and wink about the Tailor, and how that tells devoted Seven Soldiers fans just how much of role Morrison really played in saving his take on Superman?

Batman #60: Batman is…Batman is weird lately. I honestly don’t have anything else to say about this issue, except that the bit with Alfred cleaning was obviously killer.

The Unexpected #6: So Ronan Cliquet is bad, right? Like, we can all agree that dude is just bringing nothing to the table? I’ve never seen pages so plain look so simultaneously cramped and barren. This book has been such a damn disappointment: clearly promises were made about how much space Orlando would have to work on this that have been entirely broken, he’s cutting past what was clearly intended to be dozens of issues of buildup and fleshing-out of the concept to the grand finale, and he’s already obviously and understandably checked out. This should have been one of those “hey, you never heard of _____, but it was quietly one of DC’s best books for awhile there!” titles you learn about 20 years after the fact, but it was stillborn and unable to explore even the slightest sliver of its potential. It’s almost reached a point where it can make me think its coming conclusion is a mercy killing, but then, said conclusion is the problem.

Justice League #11: The debut of the Super-eyepatch! Otherwise, while it’s definitely not my favorite issue thus far of Snyder’s Justice League, it might be the one that feels the most well-realized in terms of getting his vision on the page thanks to Francis Manapul. I desperately hope he sticks on the book past Drowned Earth, because as much as I absolutely love what Jorge Jimenez and Jim Cheung are doing, his vision feels the most in line with the, as Snyder put it, ‘magisterial’ tone this title is going for a lot of the time.

The Green Lantern #1: Not my favorite Morrison title of the week in spite of its lack of clutter and outside influence, to the point where I’d honestly say it initially left me pretty cold, but much as with Morrison’s last major #1 in Action Comics, a reread did wonders for me once I knew what sort of tone I’d be grappling with. I do think it was oddly structured in a way that didn’t benefit it, leading with the mundane-flavored-with-cosmic with the alien beat cops rather than Hal’s more grounded perspective leading into the awe-inspiring, but given it sets up an immediate contrast with his ‘civilian life’, I’d call it a calculated risk that didn’t quite pay off. Hal himself is interestingly realized, this blunt, bored dude who only really comes alive when he’s on the clock, who’s as hyper-competent at his job as you’d think the Greatest Green Lantern Of Them All would be but almost seems to be sleepwalking through his days. It’s when we reach Oa with the mission statement for the Corps that the book really comes together, meshing up the beautiful design sense, an evocation of some of Morrison’s past recurring themes and elements, and raw high concept into the most powerful evocation of the basic idea of Green Lantern’s Deal I’ve ever read. And Liam Sharp mostly does justice by it; I know some find his style off-putting and his anatomy wonky, but he sells the what-if-GL-was-a-2000AD-strip sensibility, and his work has a framing and structure and a tangible, doughy 3Dishness that recalls the flavor of some of Morirson’s best prior collaborations. Not that, to be clear, I don’t think plenty of those prior collaborators couldn’t have done a much better job with this, but I think this’ll pan out just fine.

On top of that a couple minor notes: I suspect David Uzumeri might have been right regarding the possibility that this could be the book where Morrison delves into the basic question of whether superheroes are by nature cops, and thereby police brutality (Maxim Tox and Hal himself both have some startlingly severe moments in here) and the moral feasibility of the whole business. Rather than rethinking his process in his time away, Morrison’s storytelling tics are as prominently on display here as just about anything he’s ever done. And I was genuinely shocked to see the acknowledgement of Manhattan in here - a landmark chapter in The Last War In Albion in the making if ever there was one - right alongside addressing Snyder’s Justice League, making this to my knowledge the only book in the company’s lineup to acknowledge both contenders to the throne of DC’s current actual Important Cosmic-Scale Story. I suppose Lantern is the place where that makes sense, but both bring interesting elements of their own, as with the Source Wall Morrison’s going right on in and acknowledging how other creators have brought his ideas and spirit to the forefront of the DCU in the last several years, and with Manhattan, having a Grant Morrison DC Comic acknowledge the presence of Watchmen characters as parts of the grand scheme of things makes that whole bizarre business feel real in a way even Doomsday Clock itself hasn’t for me.

Adventures of the Super Sons #4: What a charmer! I harped a lot on Pete Tomasi by and large sucking on Superman, because by and large he sucked on Superman, but put that dude on just the right project to play into his strengths and he absolutely shines.

The Dreaming #3: Wound up in my pull file since I’d unsubscribed so recently, and decided to give it one last chance. It’s pretty and confident in what it’s doing and I’m sure lots of people are rightfully getting a lot out of it, but I’m not one of them and it won’t be getting another shot.

Border Town #3: It feels odd to think this given how much positive attention it’s been getting and how well it’s sold for a modern Vertigo book, but Border Town absolutely still feels like the sleeper hit of 2018. It so feels like the sort of comic that I usually can acknowledge the quality of but doesn’t do it for me personally, so I keep picking it up expecting to not quite gel with a given issue, but each time I’m dead damn wrong. It’s brimming with energy and personality on every level, and it’s still early enough that I can’t possibly recommend enough that anyone who hasn’t given it a chance yet jump onboard.

The Wicked + The Divine: The Funnies: Speaking of titles that I can acknowledge the quality of but rarely do it for me, I’ve followed W + D from the beginning on the understanding that the fairly subdued joys I take from it on a month-by-month basis will be eclipsed by the scale of my love for it on a full reread, as was the case with the team’s Young Avengers. But boy did this one buck that trend, because it was a hoot. Honestly couldn’t tell you which was my favorite short, because like half the book is made up of front-runners.

Death of the Inhumans #5: Because Death of Some Inhumans, But Don’t Worry Not Any of the Good Ones, Other than Maximus wouldn’t have shifted as much copy. Donny Cates is establishing himself as a solid mid-tier superhero writer alongside your Tim Seeleys and James Tynions, and Ariel Olivetti’s a treat, but I have to call this one a miss.

Shatterstar #2: As I expected it didn’t grab me as much as the first issue since the tenants aren’t front-and-center, but I’m still digging it to a truly startling extent!

Marvel Knights #1: Okay? I mean, I liked it (aside from the unbelievably poorly-chosen ‘I can sort of see even though I’m blind’ line - had to be a dozen better ways of putting that), but aside from that it’s gritty and involves some of the characters with notable history in the imprint, I have no idea why this is the Marvel Knights 20th Anniversary book as opposed to just a random Marvel miniseries that I suppose could be published under that imprint if you wanted. The conceit feels so odd for the intended purpose.

The Immortal Hulk #8: This book is SO FUCKING GOOD ALL OF THE TIME AT EVERYTHING AND YOU ALL NEED TO BUY IT AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT IT. CHRIST. Still the best super-shit on the stands.

DC Nation #6: Yanick Paquette needs to write Batman explaining science so as to teach us how to better fight crime for as long as he lives, if not in fact longer.

[spine-buster]

I Thought You Might Be Mine (Ricochet) - Part V

January 16, 2018 Orlando, Florida

Iris was conveniently left out of the loop.  She had no idea what was going on.  No idea what was happening.  She thought, at first, that it was fake news.  That he would have told her beforehand.  That he would have mentioned something so she didn’t have to find out through the internet through a headline.

Trevor “Ricochet” Mann Joins WWE Performance Centre.

On the outside, she maintained her cool.  There was a lot of buzz and energy around the Performance Centre because Candice LeRae and War Machine had also signed.  But on the inside?  Iris was freaking out.  Freaking.  Out.

She had texted him at least twenty times since the press release had gone out, each message getting progressively more vulgar since he wasn’t answering her.

Is this real? Are you for real right now? You signed and you didn’t tell me? Okay, so you definitely signed.  Why wasn’t I informed?! Are you going to be here today?  It says you are but are they just saying that? Trevor you better start answering me. BITCH!!!! Candice is here too!!!! WHO CARES ABOUT YOU?! TREVOR MANN YOU BETTER ANSWER ME RIGHT NOW you sumbich ANSWER.  ME.  BITCH.   RICK O’SHEA I’M GOING TO PUNCH YOU WHEN I SEE YOU WHY AREN’T YOU ANSWERING ME!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YOU WALK IN THOSE DOORS WITHOUT TEXTING ME FIRST I’M GONNA SKIN YOU ALIVE WITH A POTATO PEELER I’M GONNA CUT U UP SO BAD U GON WISH I NO CUT U UP SO BAD ok I see how it is

She could barely concentrate on her work.  The thought of him being in the same building without her knowing occupied most of her thoughts.  She wondered if he would ask to see her, or if that would be seen as unprofessional on either of their parts.  People knew that they were best friends, though – so it couldn’t be deemed unprofessional.  Right?

She spent her time pacing in her office and obsessively refreshing Twitter on her phone to see if there was any more news to do with his signing or his showing up at the Performance Centre since he wasn’t answering her in any capacity.  She was trying to see if he had been spotted at the airport or something.  Maybe one of the novice recruits had tweeted something out.  God, she felt like such a stalker.  

Just as she was about to open another search tab, a loud knock came at her door.  “Miss Capshaw, are you in there?” she heard William Regal on the other end.  “I need to speak to you for a moment.”

“Come on in, Mr. Regal,” she called out, switching her screen to a lesson instead of Twitter.  She even went so far as to pretend to ‘look busy’, a move she learned from George Costanza, and shuffled some papers on her desk.  

The door opened slowly, and William Regal stood in a suit in the doorway.  “You have a visitor, Miss Capshaw, whom I believe you know very well,” he said, a small smirk on his face.  

When Trevor appeared beside him, already decked out in a WWE shirt and shorts, Iris jumped up from out of her seat.  She tried to remain as calm as possible, but her sudden movement made both Trevor and William chuckle.  “Trevor!” she smiled from ear to ear.

“Is the potato peeler you’re gonna skin me alive with in your desk or what?” he asked.  

The rhetorical question garnered a chuckle out of Regal.  “I’ll let you two catch up and I’ll be back in five minutes.  I think someone has some explaining to do,” he nodded his head towards Trevor before leaving the room, closing the door half way.

When he was gone, Iris ran to Trevor and jumped into his arms.  He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face into the crook of her neck, letting her scent intoxicate him.  It had been so long.  So long.  “Hey, baby,” he whispered.  

“Is this a dream?”

Trevor chuckled.  “I told you I’d follow you wherever you go.  Just took me a bit longer.”

Had he ever lied to her?  He even kept his promises he’d said in the heat of the moment.  “You actually signed here.  Why didn’t you tell me?”

He set her down but kept his arms wrapped around her.  If it were up to him, he’d be touching her all day.  “I have to keep some things as a surprise.  Makes life interesting.”

Oh, did it ever.  They were finally living in the same city.  The possibilities now were endless.  She wouldn’t be constantly asking him where he was in the world so she could work out the time difference.  She’d know where he would be.  And she’d probably be with him.  At least when he was in Orlando.  “Do you have an apartment yet?  A hotel?  Where are you staying?” Iris asked.

Trevor couldn’t help but laugh.  She sounded exactly as she did four years ago when they first met each other in Japan.  “Where have I heard that before?” he winked.  “I’m closing on a place in about a week.”

She gulped.  He was really here.  He was staying.  She brought her hands up to cup his face.  “I can’t believe this, Trev.”

“I know.  It’s nuts.”

“You should come over tonight,” she blurted out.  Now that she knew he was here, and here for good, she wanted to spend as much time with him as possible.  “We can order in, catch up, all that good stuff.”

“I’m never gonna say no to that.”

When Trevor knocked on Iris’s apartment door with two bags full of sushi, he was already thinking about what they could do together next.  He’d already managed to drive his everyday car and was using it to get around, but he still had his retro Mustang to drive to Orlando from Paducah.  He wondered if she’d be able to get two days off to fly out to Paducah with him and drive it down together.  That time together, alone, would be a luxury he’d pay a million dollars for.

When Iris opened the door, she was on the phone.  She greeted him by giving him a hug and let him in her apartment, but she made no attempt to end the conversation.  She was speaking Spanish, and she spoke it with such life and passion that all Trevor could do was stand in her kitchen dumbfounded, listening to her talk.  He’d heard her speak her vast array of languages before – English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Persian, Cantonese, and Japanese – and every time it was music to his ears.  She could speak Klingon and make it sound good.

By the time she hung up, Trevor had already laid out the sushi, gotten plates and cups, and was sitting down at her coffee table, flipping through the channels on the TV to see if there was anything good on to be playing in the background.  Judging by the fact that she was speaking Spanish, he knew she was more than likely on the phone with her mom, who was originally from Cuba.  

“Sorry about that,” she said as she approached the coffee table, taking a seat directly beside him instead of across from him.  “You know my mom.  When she gets going she really gets going.”

“It’s all good,” Trevor said.  “For someone who hasn’t been home for more than two weeks in five years, you’re allowed to talk to your mom all damn day.  You could have kicked me out and I would have understood.”

“Who would eat all this sushi though?”

Trevor gave her a look.  “Don’t think I can’t eat all this by myself.  You remember that Korean barbecue restaurant.”

Iris snorted.  “They almost kicked you out cause you wouldn’t stop eating.”

“Exactly.  So all this sushi is nothing to me.”

She nudged him with her elbow before grabbing a pair of chopsticks and breaking them apart.  Trevor watched as she took the entire tray of red dragon rolls and unloaded seven out of the eight pieces onto her plate.  He gave her major side-eye.  “What?” she asked.

“Am I gonna starve?”

“Bitch shut the fuck up!” she screamed, causing Trevor to throw his head back and cackle.  “I will fucking end you.  You don’t even like red dragon rolls!”

“Whatever, girl.  Just eat your food.”

Iris rolled her eyes.  She was so fucking happy.  So fucking happy.  Sushi was in front of her and Trevor was beside her.  What more could she want?  What more could she need?  “So anyways, when’s Tessa coming in to celebrate with you?” she asked.

Trevor shook his head.  “She’s not.  We broke up.”

Iris didn’t even bat an eyelash at the statement.  She stuffed her face with a piece of sushi.  “When are you guys getting back together?” she asked, knowing their routine.  It was all too familiar.

“No no,” Trevor shook his head.  “There’s no getting back together.  We broke up for good this time.”

That made Iris pay more attention.  “What happened?”

“She thought it was selfish of me to sign with WWE because she wants to sign with Impact.  It made me realize she’s that person who thinks that another person following his or her own dreams instead of her’s are selfish.  And I absolutely cannot be with a person like that.”

Wow.  So this was it – this was the end of Tessa and Trevor.  She couldn’t believe they had finally, finally called it quits.  Despite their breakups in the past, it always felt inevitable that they would get back together – they always managed to work it out.  But something in Trevor’s tone told her he was done – there would be no turning back from this decision.  He’d made the decision to sign with the WWE and move down to Orlando for himself and himself only – to follow his dream, and nobody else’s.

“I’m really sorry, Trev,” Iris said, setting her chopsticks down.

“You don’t have to be sorry.  It was a long time coming.”

“You invested two and a half years into that relationship.  She’s met Cameron,” Iris said.  “I know this is probably better for the both of you in the long run but you’re still allowed to feel sad about it.”

“That’s the thing though…I don’t feel sad,” Trevor revealed.  “I don’t exactly feel liberated, or happy, but I’m not sad about it.  We were going down two different paths.  She couldn’t acknowledge why mine was important to me.  She couldn’t acknowledge that I wanted to live my dream.  That’s it.”

Iris didn’t know what to say.  On one hand, it was a long time coming, like Trevor said earlier.  On the other hand, breakups were never nice.  She’d met Tessa a handful of times over the years, however briefly, and she seemed like a nice enough girl – whether or not Tessa was putting on airs and graces, Iris would never know.  She would never know what Tessa was like in private with Trevor.  And she would never find out.  

“So have you and Ryder set a date for the wedding yet?” Trevor asked suddenly.  “It’s been like, what?  Almost a year since you two have gotten engaged?”

Iris tried to look anywhere besides at him.  “Uh, no.”

This was going to be an interesting conversation.  “Why the hell not?”

“He um…he’s working really hard and it’s leading to another promotion soon, and he wants to get that promotion before we get married.”

‘This dude loves work more than he loves you’ Trevor thought.  He wanted to scream it into her face.  He wanted to scream it from the rooftops.  He wanted to call Ryder and scream it into the phone.  He wanted to rent one of those planes that fly a message from the tail and have it circle her apartment for an entire month.  Why couldn’t she see it?  Why wouldn’t Ryder just break up with her?  He was chasing promotion after promotion.

“We have decided to do it in Manhattan, though,” Iris revealed.  “At least that’s been decided.”

“Well that’s a step,” Trevor tried to say diplomatically, but Iris could hear the sarcasm in his voice.  Now they’d have to wait another two years to get any venue in Manhattan.  

“Can we…can we not talk about it,” Iris mumbled, fiddling with her chopsticks.  

“Why not?”  

“Because I know you don’t like him.  And I know you wished you had met me eight or nine months earlier than you did so that I wouldn’t have met him,” she said.  “But we’re best friends instead.  And I love it that way.  I love that we’re so close and we can talk to each other about anything and it’s never weird.  I only want to talk about happy things tonight because tonight is cause for celebration – nothing else.”

‘We were lovers once, too’ Trevor wanted to say.  He was still unable to get that night out of his mind, almost a year later.  We were lovers once, and it was beautiful.  And I would do it again in a second.  Instead, he found himself nodding his head.  “We good, baby,” he agreed with her.  “Shoulda told me it was a celebration cause I would have bought some Dom.”

“Joke’s on you because I have Knots donuts on the counter.”

Trevor watched as Iris loaded the dishwasher of their plates used at dinner.  With sushi and donuts sitting in his stomach, he was ready to plop down on the couch and not move for a solid three hours, or at least until everything digested.  He and Iris had taken their sweet time with eating, catching up on every aspect of their lives and work.  He showed her how his house was just a short drive from the Performance Centre, and therefore just a short drive from her apartment, too.  Then he thought about how much time could be spent together due to the simple fact they lived less than fifteen minutes away from each other, and he got even more excited.  

“Why do you keep looking at me like that?” Iris asked as he was lost in thought.  “Are you in a food coma or what?”

“I’m just thinking about all the fun we’re gonna have in Orlando,” Trevor smiled.  

Iris smiled too, loading the last dish before closing the dishwasher and jumping up to sit on the counter.  “We’re gonna have such a great time.  It’s no Tokyo, but it’ll do.”

Trevor walked over to her slowly, keeping his eyes on her as he stood in front of her, between her legs.  He brought his arms up and around her waist, inching closer to her.  She brought her hands up and rested them around his neck.  Trevor looked up at her, taking in the sight of being so close to her.  “It’s taking every ounce of self restraint in me not to kiss you right now,” Trevor said.

“Good.  Because you can’t.”

“I know that,” Trevor digressed.  “Ain’t exactly happy about it, but I know.”  They didn’t break eye contact, even for a second.  “We can still cuddle though.  We always cuddle and watch Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  That’s our thing.”

They had a lot of things, that was for sure.  Tokyo.  Sushi.  Brownies.  Donuts from Knots Bakery.  Cuddling and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.  “Let’s go,” she found herself saying, and she couldn’t conceal the smile that appeared on her face when she saw the smile on Trevor’s.

He picked her up from the counter and she wrapped her legs around him as he carried her towards the couch.  He saw down first, with her on top of him, and she rearranged herself so that her legs were in his lap and she could lay her head on his chest.  Trevor’s arm was wrapped around her, his hand already finding her exposed skin from where her shirt had ridden up, while the other rested in between her thighs.  She thought back to the last time they were in this position and the…actions they had gotten up to.  Iris knew that Trevor would never expect it to happen again, but she did wonder what was going through his mind as they cuddled so close to one another.  She could never tire of cuddling with him, but he always managed to find a way to make the opportunities more touchy and intimate.

When the cold open of season two of Brooklyn Nine-Nine began to play, she focused her attention on the TV.  Joke after joke, laugh after laugh, they stayed wrapped up in each other.  Trevor would joke that she was exactly like Boyle, her favourite character, which caused her to laugh even more.  Throughout the night, his hands wandered slowly, his left finally settling into playing with her hair while he placed light kisses on the crown of her head and forehead.  

Iris never asked him to stop.  

When it was almost one in the morning, the sun having gone down hours ago, the giggling and laughing becoming fewer and farther in between due to the fatigue from the day, Trevor’s hands were still playing with her hair, his lips still firmly planted on her forehead.  

“Iris?” he whispered, making sure she was still awake.

“Mhm?” she mumbled back to him faintly.

“I don’t care where we are in the world.  Tokyo, Orlando…I don’t care if we’re in the Sahara Desert or in the middle of fucking Kazakhstan.  Wherever I am with you is where I’m supposed to be, and I know I’m gonna be having the time of my life.”

Iris smiled, biting her lip nervously.  For the first time that night, she moved so she could look directly at him.  “I feel the same about you, you know.  Whenever I’m with you I’m having the time of my life.”

When Trevor smiled, she smiled back at him and went back to resting her head on his chest.  She could feel his lips kissing her forehead before he whispered, in a soft, faint whisper, “I love you baby.”

She didn’t freeze.  She didn’t gasp.  She didn’t overthink.  What she said next was pure instinct.  An automatic reaction.  Something she knew.

“I love you too.”

@wrestlewriting @wrasslin-x @thegenericluchadora @thewriterformerlytaggedas@fan-fiction-galore @anerdysouthernbelle @spot-of-bother @amaranthine-reign@baleesi @flnnbalor @smuppies @sarahmatthews7 @daintymissdevitt@newjapan @corey-renee @running-ropes @balorsomega @karleedaniels27@kazuchika @ileana0300 @alexahood21 @ohcristimhookedonhavocimsodunne@fembxt @heelturn-timesten @kaitlynwwefan @50shadesofadamcolebaybay@50shadesofkennyomega @chasingeverybreakingwave @thyestean-feast @thecandicej @devittsbalor @sp00kylesley @danahart @sietefinns@kaydee-kayyyy @powerbombshell @swedish-strong-style @blondekel77@irish-newzealand-idian-dutch @nickysmum1909 @houndofjustice-imagines @wwesmutdonedirtcheap @wweximaginesxd @indywrestlinglover-life @mandi512 @kakakatey @ourscratcheddreams @sleeplessandcynical @badame124 @thevixeniris @fabulousrockstar @lunatic-sambrose @caramara3 @crossfitjesusinskinnyjeans

[conceitedclarington]

Rooftop Rendezvous || Berrington

Date: February 19th, 2018

Location: Target

Starring: Hunter Clarington & Scarlett Berry, @scarlettsberry

Notes:  Scarlett takes Hunter up to the roof of the warehouse for some platonic alone time.

Warnings: None

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett would be lying if she told you she’d stopped thinking about the night she’d spent with Hunter before Valentine’s day. She was already lying to herself and pretending it didn’t happen even though it’s all she could think about when she was alone in her room at night. She’d be lying if she said he wasn’t the one she was picturing when she spent the night with his sister. If she were being one hundred percent honest she had really planned to never see Hunter again if she could help it. She was ashamed of herself and of how far she’d let Hunter in. She clearly couldn’t be trusted alone with him and with her feelings- so she figured with him being occupied with his new boyfriend, she could slip right into the shadows and ghost herself away and he’d never even realize she was gone. Unfortunately, he had other plans and she couldn’t bring herself to say no to him.

Which is why she found herself on the way to meet up with Hunter after her shift at Starbucks, her camera bag and two drinks from work in tow. She figured if she was going out with her friend she might as well work on her assignments for her photography class as well. With a soft sigh of relief to be done with the day, she made her way back to the pharmacy, knowing the man would be done with his own shift very soon. Leaning onto the counter of the pharmacy, she rung the bell to get Hunter’s attention. “Excuse me, you got anything for a good time?” She teased with a smirk, adjusting the camera bag over her leather jacket.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter spent the day meandering through his job, mostly trying his best to ignore Rachel’s complaints about how something something on Broadway and he just tuned her out so he could focus on his work. He was so immersed in his work and finishing up for the day that he hadn’t even heard the little bell ringing. When he heard Scarlett’s voice from the other side of the counter, his ears perked up and a bright smile made its way onto his face. The two were twins but he knew could easily pick out his friend’s voice over her sister’s. “Hey, Red,” he made his way over to the counter and greeted her with a wink. “I can hook you up with some gummy bear vitamins and one of the stickers we give to the kids who come in for flu shots,” he teased right back. They shared a little laugh before he shook his head. “I’m just finishing up; I’ll be out in a sec.”

In less than five minutes Hunter came out wearing a peacoat over his collared shirt and he was ready to go. “Is that coffee for me?” he asked with a knowing smile, pointing to the coffee in her hands. “Or are you looking to stay up all night wired on caffeine?” When he took the proffered coffee from her and they started making their way out of the store, Hunter took a sip and hummed a pleased noise. “Mm, you remembered my coffee order.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chuckled softly as Hunter offered gummy vitamins and stickers, rolling her eyes at how dumb he was before she patiently waited for him. When he came out from the pharmacy out of his uniform, she gave him a once-over and smiled. “Lookin’ sharp, hotshot.” She giggled, handing over the coffee. “Of course I remember your coffee order.” She said, getting close to him, invading his space as she looked up at him with her dark eyes, biting on her lip. “I know you like it double dirty.” Her tone was extremely suggestive and almost too sexual as she mimicked the way he tried to tease her whenever he came to see her for coffee, letting her middle and index finger walk up his chest slowly before flicking the bottom of his cup.

As the girl pulled away from Hunter with a soft laugh, she nodded her head towards the back of the store rather than the exit. “You ready? I have actual photography assignments to do and I know where I want to shoot today before the sun goes completely down.” Scarlett reached for Hunter’s hand, naturally. The girl had no boundaries. She led him through the store, throwing a wink at Hunter’s sister as they passed through the electronics department before taking him off to the back.

Hunter Clarington:

“I always clean up nice,” Hunter replied when she complimented him and then even came well within his personal space. “I think we both know you like it dirty, too.” With a playful laugh he nudged at her, both aware of their coffee lingo. Even if Scarlett got “too close” to him, he never felt that way around her. He already knew that she was just the flirty type and she liked to tease him even though he was in a steady relationship with Blaine. It was amusing rather than off-putting and Hunter really liked the dynamic they shared as friends.

Hunter followed the girl out the back of the store and when Scarlett mentioned wanting to take photos before sunset, he checked his phone for the time. They still had a few hours before the sun went down but they had to hurry since sunset was still relatively early as it usually was during the winter months. “Alright, cool; want me to drive? You can give me directions or if it’s easier for you to take your car-- whatever. I’m flexible.” Hunter volunteered, giving Scarlett a slight shrug as he took another sip from his dirty latte.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett raised her eyebrows as she giggled. “Did you park back here?” She asked once they were inside the warehouse part of the store.“We aren’t going anywhere.” She said, leading him down a ways before they came upon a door that lead to a staircase. “C’mon,” she nodded towards the upstairs.

She led him up the stairwell before coming to a door that was locked with a padlock. “Hold this, please.” She handed Hunter her coffee before slipping her hand into her pocket to pull out a paperclip and a bobby pin, squatting down to be face-to-face with the lock. Biting on her lip, it only took her about thirty seconds to pick the lock before she stood up with a smug look on her face as she opened the door to the roof. “After you,” Scarlett said, taking her coffee back.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter had been following Scarlett almost blindingly that he hadn't even paid attention to the fact that she was leading him to the warehouse out back and not to the parking lot. He didn't say anything and continued to follow her as they came upon the staircase and a locked door at the top. “Um,” he took Scarlett’s coffee and held it at her request, watching with curiosity as she proceeded to pick the lock. With it picked, the padlock fell to the ground with a heavy thud and he was duly impressed. “Whoa, Red, you’ve got some skills,” he chuckled as he walked through the door that led them to the roof. “I didn't even know a place like this existed…” He said, mostly to himself as he took a look around and took in the view. Everything as far as the eye could see was covered in a thin blanket of white from the snow they'd had the night before.

He walked out to the edge of the roof, getting as close as he could to the view. “So you wanted to take pictures of the landscape? Or is this just the backdrop to all the portraits you'll be taking of me?” he laughed, his breath coming out in thin, puffy clouds. “Are you going to take photos of me and submit them to GQ for their ‘Handsomest Man’ consideration?”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett gave a smug look and a shrug when Hunter expressed that he was impressed by her skills. “I think you’ll be surprised to learn that I’m good at a lot of things.” She said, following him out onto the roof. “Especially things that are bad or illegal. I was sort of a problem child in my adolescence.” The girl laughed softly as she followed Hunter towards the edge to look out and over, sucking in a deep breath of the frigid air before letting it out.

Raising her eyebrows at the man’s cocky words, Scarlett couldn’t help but laugh and roll her eyes. “Yeah, I’m going to take photos of you to skyrocket your career and then move to Nebraska to start my life over in Omaha- maybe I’ll meet a nice fuck-buddy there.” The girl mumbled almost bitterly as the comment brought back memories of Danny.  Shrugging it off, chuckling again. “Sorry-- inside joke with myself about how people use me.” She rolled her eyes once again before setting her bag down in a spot that wasn’t soaking wet before digging out her camera, leaving her coffee next to the bag as well. “Self-deprecation is my thing.” Scarlett smiled up at Hunter as she slipped the strap around her neck, turning the camera on. “I need to shoot some perspective shots-- which, that’s kind of my thing. And I need to play with silhouettes-- which I will be using you for.” She smiled at him, biting on her lip. “If you’re okay with being in my presentation?”

Before even giving Hunter a chance to answer, she snapped a candid of him as she giggled softly. “I don’t think your shadow will get you into GQ, babe.”

Hunter Clarington:

“You, a problem child? No way,” Hunter laughed, as he crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a fake skeptical look before grinning. When Scarlett made a little inside joke for herself, Hunter wondered exactly what it was about but didn’t think it was the time or place to bring it up. “I would’ve never thought you were a problem child-- just like I wouldn’t ever think a woman with such a high caliber of snark and abrasiveness would ever use self-deprecation as a coping mechanism.” He gave her a little nudge then, letting her know that it didn’t matter to him one way or another if she had to use her little jokes to protect herself and her feelings.

He sipped his coffee as he watched her take her camera out of her bag and slip the strap over her neck. With the camera in her hands she looked very comfortable and in her element. Suddenly she was snapping a picture of him, unannounced, and he clicked his tongue. “Hey, no fair; I wasn’t even posing,” he complained with smile on his face. “I happen to think I have a pretty striking profile-- even as a silhouette--” Hunter turned his face to the side and lifted his chin just a bit for the woman to take his photo. “Maybe these photos will make you famous one day.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett laughed as Hunter feigned surprise that she had been a problem child or that her defense mechanism was self depreciation. She liked that he felt he knew her well enough to use that kind of sarcasm because it made her laugh. “Shut the fuck up.” She shook her head with a fond smile.

“Hey, way fair— candids are the best.” She mocked his tone as she played with the settings of her camera for a moment. As her brown eyes lifted to him, she couldn’t help but shake her head again, still smiling. “You love getting attention so much— it’s so funny.” She teased him, taking a step back and moving so the sunshine would be blocked by Hunter to make him seem darker before she snapped a few photos— it very clear that the woman was serious about photography. She instructed him to turn around so she could get a shot of him looking off towards the sunset. “Or, you know, I just really want a picture of your ass.” She teased, snapping a few more. With a soft sigh as she looked through some of the shots, Scarlett shrugged. “I dunno, I mean, I don’t know that I necessarily want to be famous. But it would be nice to be recognized for my talents.” The girl explained.

Letting the camera hang loose around her neck as she stood next to Hunter, looking off at the sunset as well. “I’m not good at many things. Anything really— except photography. I know that I’m good at this.” She nodded, looking up at him and giving a slight one-shouldered shrug. “My ex stole my pictures and used them for his personal gain.” She confessed after a long moment of silence. It seemed that if there was any type of silence between her and Hunter she was liable to spill her memories- which she didn’t like. It was dangerous. “He didn’t give me any credit and I didn’t have them copyrighted because, well, he was my boyfriend and I’m an idiot.” She chuckled, shaking her head before lifting the camera up to take a few shots of the landscape in front of them. “So now he’s got modeling contracts and I’m in Minnesota.”

Hunter Clarington:

“I think you of all people should know how much I love attention,” he smirked. Hunter did as he was instructed to do, striking a pose or acting natural whenever Scarlett demanded it, wanting to be as cooperative as possible. When she was seemingly finished taking a set of shots and looked at her camera, he looked at her and observed her for a moment. He wished that he had a camera himself so he could snap a candid of her; he was almost fascinated at how at peace she seemed with that camera in her hands.

As Hunter had half-expected, not prying for information made the girl feel like she could open up to him. He wasn't surprised when the origin of her self-deprecation was her ex-boyfriend, Danny, once again. “Theft is theft, regardless if you had them copyrighted or not,” he pointed out, though he knew there was very little that could be done now if Danny was already a successful model. “So what if the loser has a modeling contract with ‘Boys R Us’? When you breakout onto the scene because of your amazing photos-- especially of me-- you'll be the one signing contracts because everyone will want you as their photographer.” Hunter looked at Scarlett and gave her a reassuring smile. “One asshole isn't going to stop you from getting what you want-- whether you're an idiot or not.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off of her face as Hunter spoke about Danny and how insignificant his triumph was compared to where she would be going in life. It made her feel good inside to hear someone talk so highly of her and to be so encouraging-- it wasn’t something she was used to since she’d moved away from home. “Shut up,” She chuckled, almost blushing. “My dads are pretty much the only ones of my family and friends who really support me in this. Rachel loves me and she likes my pictures -- mainly because she doesn’t have to pay for headshots.” Scarlett snickered softly, shaking her head. “But she can’t quite grasp why I don’t want to be the tap-dancing-broadway-twins with her. Nevermind that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket.” The girl rolled her eyes before snapping a couple more photos, looking around, she noticed the way the snow piled on the ledge of the building and she got an idea.

Getting down on her knees on the freezing cold roof, she brought the camera up to her cheek, being sure to focus on the snow while the city scape stood as a blurred silhouette in the back, the sunset painting the background shades of pink and orange. She took a few more photos than probably necessary before she knew she’d definitely got the shot she wanted. Getting up off the ground with a soft laugh, wiping at her now wet clothes. “And that shot is what will give me an A-plus grade.” She said with a smug look as she looked at the taller. “Sorry, hotshot. Your shot will be secondary.” She chuckled, shivering at the way the wind whipped around her body, feeling cold worse than before.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter listened and rolled his eyes as he pictured the annoying twin yammering on and complaining in her usual fashion. He watched as Scarlett got down in the snow for the sake of her photo and in the process got her clothes all wet. “Yeah, maybe I'm the hotshot but you're going to freeze getting down in the snow like that, dumbass,” Hunter reprimanded, taking the coat off of his back and draping it over the girl. Even if he thought she was foolish for getting her clothes wet and risked catching a cold, he admired that she went to such lengths. It showed how passionate she was for her work, even if it was just for her classes.

“Lemme see those pictures; I wanna see how great they are if they're worth catching pneumonia over,” Hunter said, approaching Scarlett and hovering within her personal space to see the pictures. He didn't bother to let her remove the camera strap off of her and instead stood closely, only a few inches away from her. He waited and looked through the photos she just took and a smile crept its way onto his face as she scrolled through them. “Wow, Red, these are really pretty,” he said, still looking down at the little digital display on the back of Scarlett’s camera. “Tell me what grade you get back when you submit that picture of me; I’d like to be able to tell people I actually have an A-plus silhouette,” he joked.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chuckled at Hunter’s pneumonia comment as she looked through her photos, not really noticing that the man was leaning over until she could feel his warmth invading her space. “Hey!  No, no. You can see these when and only when they’re printed.” She giggled, playfully shoving the man away. “Thanks, though.” She muttered, taking the compliment. With a satisfied sigh, Scarlett let her camera hang around her neck, smiling at Hunter. “Thanks for coming up here with me, Hunt.” She said, nibbling on her lip as she looked at her company.

The girl took another deep breath before coughing gently, reaching into her pocket for her inhaler to take a puff. “The cold isn’t my friend.” She said with a chuckle as she put it away. Shuffling her feet a little and tugging Hunter’s coat tighter around her. “So, like,” she started, looking at the taller. “What else do friends do? Because I usually fill this silence with sex so I can’t have things happen like the ice cream shop.” Scarlett laughed apprehensively at herself as she shrugged. “How...how are things with the Professor?”

She crinkled her nose a little. “I don’t really care about him. But like, I guess I don’t not care about you or something.” Scarlett said, looking away from Hunter towards the sunset again, going over to the edge of the building.

Hunter Clarington:

With amusement at Scarlett for not wanting him to see the photos she took, Hunter took a step back with a quiet chuckle. He sipped at his coffee as he looked out at the sunset, not particularly perturbed by the quiet. It was never uncomfortable with Scarlett even if they weren’t talking; he liked her company regardless. When she thanked him for accompanying her to take photos, he gave a slight nod of acknowledgement. It was rare to see her being cordial without her usual sass and he appreciated her genuinity. “Sure, anytime I’m free and want some company when you take photos, just call me up. I can appreciate the scenery or provide you with a muse for your photography.” He watched her take a puff from her inhaler. “Maybe next time we’ll go when it’s warmer so the weather doesn’t irritate your asthma.”

Taking another sip of his coffee and letting it warm his insides now that he wasn’t wearing his coat, Hunter laughed along with Scarlett’s comment about usually having sex to fill the silence. “It’s okay-- I can do the talking,” he insisted, though having her open up about herself wasn’t as bad as she made it out to be. “Things with me and Blaine have been pretty good. We went on a date the other day; he suggested miniature golf, which was fun.” He started out, pausing for just a moment as images of the night of their date flashing in the back of his mind. A sly smile made its way onto his face as he pictured Blaine’s naked body in his bed and he chuckled softly. “Uh, I’d definitely say we’re making pretty good progress. He and I had a lot of… fun.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett’s jaw was already set after she asked about Blaine, not caring one bit to hear about anything Blaine and Hunter were doing together. Not that she was jealous-- it was just the mere thought of that hobbit made her eyes want to roll so far back into her head that it almost hurt. Just like when he told her they went mini-golfing. “Jeez,” She snorted, shaking her head. “Could he be any gayer?” Scarlett laughed, looking at back at the taller listening as he continued.

When Hunter suggested that he and Blaine had had sex, she bit back the urge to vomit in front of him and instead just settled on another eye-roll and a sound of disgust. “Gross.” She raised an eyebrow, her forehead wrinkling. “You actually fucked that muppet?” She shook her head once again, crossing her arms. “He didn’t strike me as the easy type.” She insulted the Anderson twin out loud, like a knee-jerk reaction. Chewing on the inside of her lip, she raised her eyebrows, looking at her friend. “So? Was he any good?” She asked, almost as if she cared.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter knew he ought to be coming to his boyfriend’s defense. Scarlett was his friend but Blaine was his boyfriend now and those insults wouldn’t do, no matter how jaded and mean he knew she could be. Still, he was apprehensive to straight-out warn her and her insults even if he was acutely aware of her general distaste for the younger man. “We don’t have to talk about him if you don’t want to,” Hunter suggested, his expression unreadable as he set his cup of coffee down and shoved his too-cold hands back into his pockets. “There are other things we can talk about besides each other’s sex lives. But, to answer your question: yeah, he was great.”

Thinking it would be a good idea to change the subject instead to continue talking about Blaine, Hunter thought about something else to talk about. No ideas were coming to mind but luckily he was saved by the bell as his phone chimed in his pocket. Hunter fished out his mobile phone and let out an audible groan when he saw who was calling. He briefly showed the girl the lit-up screen with the name DAD at the top in all caps.

“Dad, I'm at work right now so this isn't really a good time,” Hunter greeted as he answered the phone. He turned away from his friend slightly as his father's grave and serious voice came in through the other line.

“Hello to you too, son. I just wanted to talk to you once more about my offer. You and I both know it's not too late--"

“Save it; I've told you before that I'm not interested.”

“Come to your senses and just think about this! At least your sister, however rebellious she's become due to your horrendous example as an older brother, has chosen an honorable career. You're just a disappointment.”

There it was. Hunter scrunched his eyes shut for a moment as he processed what his father was telling him.

“Hunter? Are you still there?”

“Yeah,” Hunter nearly growled through gritted teeth. “I'm less than a year away from getting my degree so I'm not changing careers. Stop calling me about this.” Without letting his father reply, he hung up.

Hunter felt the frustration and shame coiling itself into a tight and heavy knot in his stomach. The hairs on his back stood straight up as he all but fumed with anger before he took a running start and kicked his half-finished coffee across the roof. The hot liquid spilled out and splashed all around, melting the ice as it hit the asphalt. Some of it got onto his pants but Hunter was too upset to care in that moment.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett felt slightly guilty when Hunter suggested that they didn’t have to talk about Blaine. She was supposed to be his friend and that meant talking about his boyfriend...nicely. With a heavy sigh, Scarlett looked at him. “I’m not nice, you know that. I-I don’t want you to not-“ She was doing her best at an apology when Hunter’s phone rang. Raising her eyebrows at the way the man groaned, she was curious as to what that was about.

The girl didn’t make any effort to act like she wasn’t listening to Hunter’s conversation and her brow furrowed at the tension that seemed to perch onto his shoulders. She could tell by the tone he used when speaking to his father that the two’s relationship must be strained to some extent. When Hunter hung up the phone and kicked his coffee, she felt herself tense up a little bit at the sudden movement. Biting on her lip, Scarlett wasn’t sure what to do- she wasn’t good with emotions and consoling.

The silence was deafening for the brief moments she attempted to find what to say. “Well, that sounded like it went well. How’s Pops?” She rolled her eyes at herself. Great start. Stepping closer to her friend, she ran her hand up his back to gently squeeze at his shoulder. “Loosen up there, Hunt. You’re gonna pop a blood vessel.”

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter tensed for a moment when Scarlett approached him. When she ran her hand up his back, he felt the warmth penetrating down to his skin and he relaxed if only slightly. “I’m-- I'm fine,” he insisted half-heartedly. He turned into the woman's touch and when he faced her, his brows turned up into an apologetic look. “Sorry you had to be here for that; I didn't mean to spoil the mood or to get so upset… sometimes my father just gets under my skin.” After that conversation Hunter no longer felt cold, his blood close to boiling and his face hot to the touch as his anger bubbled just below the surface.

He pursed his lips and wondered if he should divulge any further information. He wasn't sure Scarlett even wanted to hear it. When they were just fuck buddies they kept emotions out of their lives; they talked a little here and there after a playful romp in bed but nothing quite so serious. The only people that really knew about his fragile relationship with his father were the members in his immediate family.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett shook her head as her brow furrowed deep, keeping her hand on the taller’s shoulder before running it down his chest to rest it there. “Hey, no, don’t apologize. I already ruined the mood by being mean, you owed me one.” She attempted to joke to make him smile. Nibbling on her lip gently, she curled her fingers around his coat a little to hold onto him and keep him close. Her brown eyes gazed up at him. “C’mon, spill. Talk to me, we’re friends.”

Scarlett encouraged Hunter to talk because she wanted a chance to prove to him that she could be there for him in the same way he had been there for her. She had already failed at listening about his boyfriend, she needed to prove herself.

Hunter Clarington:

When Scarlett joked with him, he smiled but just barely. It seemed like if anyone could ruin his day, all they had to do was get his father on the phone for a short two-minute call. His phone rang again and the same capital letters lit up on the screen. Hunter took this opportunity to decline the call and silence his phone before putting it back in his pocket. Just getting another call from the man had Hunter getting riled up again.

“I just-- I--" he exclaimed, unsure how to even begin. His hands were at his sides, balled up into tight fists. Scarlett was his good friend and he knew he could tell her anything. She might have something snarky to say but he trusted her. “My father didn’t want me to do this whole pharmacy thing. He wanted me to enlist in the army or go to college to become an officer,” he explained, knowing the short version would make a better story. “I've always wanted to travel and my father is a military man himself; he wanted me to follow in his footsteps. I didn't.”

Just thinking about the phone call and being reminded of his father's offer had Hunter chewing on the inside of his lip. Usually the man was calm and collected-- very rarely ever visibly angry-- but this struck a nerve with him. It made him blow up and yell and want to punch his father in the face. “He’s been trying to get me to move back home. He's bribed me with the money to do all the travelling I want to do… but only if I come home and enlist. Only after I've served my time in the army; that's at least four years active duty and then another four in the reserves before I can even begin to think about travelling freely and doing whatever I want.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett listened to Hunter, letting the information he was giving settle in. She’d often wondered what his home life was like and it was obviously unhealthy and it was blatantly clear to her that he and his father butt heads. A wrinkle settled in her forehead as she observed the man in front of her, letting her eyes fall down his body to his fists. Every part of him was visibly tense. It made her heart ache for him, she didn’t like seeing him that way. She didn’t like imagining him going off to join the army either, the thought made an irrational fear flare up inside of her briefly. “The army? That’s stupid, no.” She shook her head, frowning.

Her hands lifted from his chest and she reached to touch his hands, slowly attempting to coax them out of fists. “Hey,” her voice was soft as she tugged him a little closer. “Come here.” Scarlett pulled the man into a hug, slipping her arms around his neck and holding him tight.

The girl wasn’t sure what to say, having just learned that she hated Hunter’s father- she didn’t have anything nice to say about him, that's for sure. “Don’t even worry about him. You’re so close to reaching your goal— yours. He’s probably just jealous because you are doing something he never could or never did. I doubt his dream was to go into the army, his dad probably pressured him into it. He didn’t have the balls to stand up to him and follow his own path.” She explained, rolling her eyes as she pulled back from the hug just enough to look up into his eyes- their faces just an inch apart. “You just...you need to follow your heart and keep doing things that make you happy. Whether it be pharmaceuticals or dropping everything and traveling the world or becoming some sort of free spirit who lives in the mountains and doesn’t bathe.” Scarlett chuckled. Biting down on her lip, she gave a little shrug as her voice softened. “For what it’s worth, I’m proud of you, Hunt.”

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter’s hands released their tight grip when Scarlett gently touched them. He all but melted into her embrace and he let out a heavy sigh. Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, listening to her words and letting them sink in. It was true that so far Hunter has been making his own pathway for the future instead of following the one his father laid out for him. When Scarlett pulled back to look at him, he stared deep into her eyes. Her words resonated with him.

Follow your heart.

I’m proud of you.

Hunter quirked a little smile and chuckled, feeling the faintest blush kiss his cheeks. It felt really good to hear someone say they were proud of him. While Hunter never felt he needed reassurance or validation from anyone— especially since his parents weren’t offering any— hearing those words warmed his heart. “Thank you,” he told her, his voice quiet. He wrapped his arms around her again and held her tightly, nuzzling his nose against her. “I appreciate you a lot, y'know.” Hunter was whispering in her ear, speaking softly even though they were the only two people on the rooftop.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett smiled to herself as she could see the way the taller blushed ever so slightly at her words, thinking he was cute. She was happy that she could be the one there for Hunter-- she was the one who made him feel better. Even though it was not the time, she couldn’t help but feel a bit smug that she was the one Hunter was sharing with. Not Blaine. Her eyes fluttered closed when he nuzzled against her and she chuckled, leaning into him and tightening her arms around his neck to hold him closer.

“Mmm, I know.” She teased, chuckling gently before turning her head to press her lips against his cheek, the kiss was anything but friendly. It was slow and intimate despite being just a kiss on the cheek. Leaning her head against his, she exhaled slowly, feeling her heart beating in her throat. “I’m always here for you, Hunt.” She whispered, being the one to nuzzle against him this time. If anyone were to see them together, it would be blatantly clear to anyone with eyes that the two definitely had a chemistry between them that was dangerous- especially when one of them had a significant other.

When the intimacy of the moment started getting to Scarlett a little, the tension building inside of her, she pulled back only a tiny bit to look up at him again, clearing her throat. “I mean, you-you’re like...my best friend, you know?” Scarlett shrugged one shoulder, the corner of her lips quirking upwards.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter found comfort in the feeling of closeness and this intimacy with his friend. Knowing that he could count on Scarlett to be there for him when he needed it was almost a relief; he felt a great weight lifting off of his shoulders as Scarlett held him and whispered in his ear.

The moment Scarlett pulled back, Hunter immediately recognized that she was getting uncomfortable. He chuckled, aware that such a tender and sweet moment went against her typical nature. At least he knew she was actually capable of feelings, despite her constantly preaching she didn’t want to touch any sort of feelings with a ten-foot pole. “You’re my best friend, too,” he told her, nodding. “You can always count on me, too-- For anything. You don’t have to pretend with me; you can be honest.” He hoped that by telling her this, it would help to break down those walls she’d built up around her. He wanted to be someone she could trust wholly and actually be herself without worrying about ever getting hurt again. She needed someone like that in her life and Hunter wanted to be that person.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead and offered her a genuine smile. Hunter might’ve been an arrogant asshole at times but he had his moments where he could actually be nice and comforting.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett smiled at him when he told her she was his best friend, rolling her eyes and chuckling softly. “Hunter Green, you are so gross.” She teased him, wrinkling her nose as he kissed her forehead, something flipping in her stomach. “I told you that you were going to love me, I warned you.” Scarlett giggled once more before shaking her head and pulling back from him, raising her eyebrows and clearing her throat once more. “The Hobbit wouldn’t appreciate you falling in love with me on the rooftop here, babe.” She teased further, winking as she turned away from him to, letting her hand drag down his arm and linger at his hand as long as possible before she let their hands part and she went over to pick up her coffee and take a sip.

“And you can count on me for anything, too.” Scarlett shrugged, looking back at him. “I mean, I’m sure I’ll tease you about something but I’ll always care or whatever.” A small grin tugged at her lips as she looked at the man in front of her, shaking her head. “You know, hotshot, you’re really different from any guy I’ve ever met.”

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter laughed and shook his head when she accused him of being in love with her. “You’re ridiculous,” he said, smiling at her. He loved spending time with Scarlett and being her friend was great. So far he hadn’t had any trouble juggling a friendship with her and a romantic relationship with Blaine; he didn’t see any reason why either of the two needed to stop. Another chuckle fell from his lips when she teased him, her fingers dragging down his arm leaving tingles across his skin. He licked his lips when Scarlett turned her back and he was aware of the way the girl made him feel. They had slept together a number of times before and it was almost like a fond memory Hunter liked to think about; she had an amazing body and their time together was full of fun. But Hunter was in a relationship and he truly did see a future together with Blaine. He liked Blaine a lot and it was different from his relationship with Scarlett. There was no romantic future with Scarlett because she didn’t do any sort of committed relationships.

But that was okay; Hunter felt he was lucky to have Scarlett as a good friend.

“I don’t mean to brag-- well, yes, I do-- but I’m not quite like other guys out there,” he told her as he neared her, glancing down at the camera she treasured so much. “I’d like to think I’m a gentleman with a badass streak.” With the shrug of his shoulders Hunter laughed again, aware he probably sounded slightly cockier than usual but he knew he could do so around Scarlett. He knew she didn’t need to be impressed so he could be honest about how arrogant he really was.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chuckled as Hunter got closer to her, looking up at him as he bragged about himself shamelessly-- it was one of the things she found most endearing about the other. His ability to talk himself up and be so goddamn cocky was something that she liked, it made her smile. Hunter made her smile-- a lot more than anyone else ever had. Rolling her eyes, she shook her head. “Of course you mean to brag, you’re so full of yourself, Green.” She joked looking up at the man fondly.

“You are very arrogant -- but badass? What have you done that is anywhere close to badass?” She asked with a quirk of her eyebrow. “Rebelling against Daddy doesn’t count.” The shorter said, raising her camera to catch her friend off guard in a photo, chuckling again. “I will agree that you’re a gentleman, though. You’re a very sweet guy, it’s almost gross.” Scarlett glanced down, nibbling on her lip a she thought over the few small things Hunter had done for her over the course of their relationship-- things that might’ve been small to others but were big to her. He was always very caring towards her even though they got on each other’s nerves. “You’ve showed me that many times.”

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter shrugged again when it was pointed out he hadn’t exactly done anything very badass. For the most part, Hunter followed the rules and despite rebelling against his father, he didn’t have a problem with authority. But then again, usually he was the authority. “Okay, so perhaps I haven’t done anything illegal but I think it’s within my character,” he mused aloud, his eyes crinkling up as he tried to smile for Scarlett’s picture but she was quicker than him. He clicked his tongue but laughed along with her when she chuckled. When she noted that he was a gentleman and that she almost found it gross, it occurred to him that they were very different individuals. Where he was very polite, she was crass. Where she was adventurous and sometimes erratic, he was calculated and planned things out sometimes even to a T.

“We both know of the two of us, you’ll probably more badass than me,” he pointed out, “And I clearly have the better manners so we should just team up. I’ve said it before but we make an awfully amazing team together, right?” The thin layer of snow crunched under his shoes. Hunter knew talking so openly about their friendship might make Scarlett uncomfortable but he hoped that if he kept talking and continued to reaffirm the strength of their relationship, Scarlett would just open up more and more as time went on.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chuckled softly when Hunter claimed it was within his character to do something illegal. She figured that consisted of driving five miles over the speed limit and nothing else— thought she figured challenging him could be fun. She could probably be the bad influence in his life he needed to dip his toe into something illegal. “Stick with me, kid, I’ll have you doing illegal things in no time.” She winked, the wheels already turning in her head.

“Yeah, I guess we make a pretty good team.” She admitted though the uncomfortable feeling nestled inside her stomach warned her against it. Scarlett let her camera rest around her neck, turning it off now that the sunset was lowering. The air between them was too comfortable for her liking and the tension between them was almost suffocating on her end. She loved and hated it all at the same time- like it was a drug. “I appreciate you coming up here with me.” She said before her eyebrow quirked. “You know, technically this is against the rules and we’re not supposed to be up here. Next time I’ll take you someplace more off limits. We’ll get you wanted for trespassing in no time.” She winked at him before going for her camera bag to slip the equipment into safety.

Hunter Clarington:

A gentle laugh fell from Hunter’s lips and despite the little puffs of air he breathed, he felt warm all throughout. Everything with Scarlett always felt like some sort of adventure; she was unpredictable. Hunter might even go so far as to say she was dangerous and that fact excited him. “Ooh, wanted for trespassing-- I might as well go buy my leather jacket now.” He joked along, thinking how breaking the rules just a little bit had rewarded the both of them with the wonderful view and a good time together. “But if next time is anything like this, I’m definitely in.”

With Scarlett putting away her camera equipment and the two of them getting pretty chilly with the winter Minneapolis air whirling around them, it was about time for them to leave. Hunter wanted to warm himself up whether that meant going back inside or heading for his car. “What're you going to do now? Head on home since you're finished taking pictures?”

Scarlett Berry:

As Scarlett settled her bag on her shoulder, she looked at Hunter for a brief moment as she mulled over his question of what she was going to do now. Call your sister and pretend it’s you when she goes down on me was the thought that first passed through her mind but she neglected to share that with him. She didn’t know how the other would feel about her trading him in for his sister essentially and she didn’t know exactly how to break the news to him. “Oh, I dunno.” She shrugged, letting out a soft sigh. “I probably should head home if I want to stay out of trouble-- but we both know I don’t exactly know how stay clear of that.” Scarlett chuckled as she started to head towards the ladder they’d used to get to the roof. Turning towards him, she raised an eyebrow. “You have a date tonight?” She asked before beginning the trek downstairs.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter chuckled at the girl’s comment about staying out of trouble. It seemed more often than not she was in the mood of looking for trouble. He thought about his own evening plans and remembered that Blaine was working a closing shift tonight. “No plans,” he replied with a soft sigh, “but I should be studying since it's a weekday. I can't exactly stick it to my father if I fail out of class, right?” Hunter wanted to do well in his life as a proverbial “fuck you” to his dad; he wanted to continue down his chosen path.

“Maybe the next time I'm not busy and you're not looking to hook up, we can hang out?” Hunter offered, eyebrows rising in a hopeful expression. They touched back down to the ground level and Hunter offered to walk Scarlett to her car.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chewed on the inside of her cheek as they reached the end of the stairs. Her reflexes wanted to invite herself over to his place but she knew that if she went to his place they would absolutely have sex and she felt it would make her look desperate. Scarlett was a lot of things but outwardly desperate wasn’t one of them. When Hunter spoke up and suggested they hang out again, the girl nodded once. “Yeah, of course.” She said, slipping her hands into the pockets of Hunter’s coat, that she was still wearing. “If you need help studying or whatever I could help with that, too, I guess.” She mentioned with a shrug, praising herself internally for holding back the usual suggestive tone she might’ve used two weeks ago.

When Hunter offered to walk her to her car, she smiled to herself, glancing down at his hand before taking it just as she did earlier. There was an odd tension in the air to her that she wasn’t quite sure what to do with. On one hand, she was just as comfortable with Hunter as she had been but on the other it was weird to just be friends with him. She didn’t know how to be friends-- she didn’t know boundaries. “You never really stop with the being a gentleman thing, do you?” She asked once they reached her car. Scarlett appreciated the caring gesture from Hunter no matter how itchy it made her. “I can’t say anyone has ever walked me to my car before.”  Biting on her lip, she leaned back against the driver’s side door and looked down at their hands for a moment before lifting her gaze to Hunter’s. She felt weird- knowing they should end their time together here for the day but also not quite ready to let go.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter’s hand fit effortlessly into Scarlett's and the warmth from their connection vastly contrasted to the sharp bite of the chilly Minnesota wind. It made Hunter feel warmer.

“I'd like to think that despite my usual asshole tendencies, I was brought up with manners and being a gentleman to people I actually care about comes naturally.” Hunter gave a little shrug of his shoulders as he stood across from her, connected only by their hands. He looked forward to another day of spending time with his friend, having found himself feeling good despite an unwanted phone call from his father. Scarlett was just gifted with the ability to make him feel better in seemingly any situation and it was very welcomed. “Go ahead and hold onto my coat; you'll catch a cold if you keep playing in the snow like that.” He gave her a little playful nudge and winked as he chuckled. “I hope you ace your class with those pics.” Being exposed to the cold without a coat wasn't great but he was headed to his car after this anyhow so he didn't mind if she kept his coat for a day or so.

“I had a lot of fun doing this, Red.” He smiled at her and let go of her hand. He took a half-step closer to her, unsure if a hug might be too much for her. A hug almost also felt like it might be too little. So instead, Hunter placed his hand on her arm and smiled at her. He settled for just a gentle squeeze of her arm-- a small gesture just to remind her that he was there for her. “I'll text you later, alright? This is just the first of many excursions, after all.” Reluctantly, Hunter took a step backwards, away from her. He gave a little wave goodbye and turned to leave.

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett didn’t comment when Hunter mentioned caring about her, the words making her stomach twist ever so gently. Chuckling softly as she nudged him back. “I was already keeping it-- looks better on me anyway.” She grinned at him before letting out a soft sigh, nodding her head. “I had a good time, too. I guess being friends with you isn’t so awful.” The shorter teased, watching carefully as the weird air seemed to affect Hunter just a bit as well, it made her laugh softly when he squeezed her arm and took a step back. She found it amusing.

“Hey Hunt, friends are allowed to hug and stuff, yeah?” She said just loud enough for him to hear after he turned to leave. “I mean, I don’t know from experience but that’s what people do, right?” A small grin settled on her lips as she gently bit down on the bottom one again. Maybe she wouldn’t be so sexually forward with him anymore but he was an idiot if he thought she wasn’t still getting affection from him- not only did it make her feel good but pissing of The Professor would just be icing on the cake.

Hunter Clarington:

Hunter stopped in his tracks when he heard the girl call out to him. He turned around, looking pleasantly surprised. “Yeah? A friendly hug isn't too mushy for Miss Badass?” he teased, taking long strides back over to her and pulling her into a warm hug. He held onto her for a few moments, the scent of her perfume and the way she just felt invading his senses. He rubbed her back before finally letting go, feeling a lot better about how he was saying goodbye to her for the day. “Alright,” he said with a grin, waving at her again. “See you.”

Scarlett Berry:

Scarlett chuckled softly, shaking her head as Hunter came closer to her. “Shut up before I change my mind.” She said, letting the taller pull her close. She relished in feeling of being close to him for the few moments of their embrace. She didn’t care too much for the way she felt in that moment and she briefly thought about never seeing him again after this night because she wasn’t sure if she could deal with this weird relationship they had together-- it was so far from her comfort zone. She closed her eyes and breathed him in for a moment before their hug came to an end. “See you,” Scarlett replied with a soft sigh, waving at him as he walked towards his car. She watched him, nibbling on her lip, as to make sure he made it safely before getting into her own car.

As Hunter drove away, Scarlett let out a soft groan and let her forehead fall against the steering wheel. She felt itchy again and she wanted to shake it off. Scarlett knew that if she went home feeling the way she was feeling she would just end up calling Danny and making an ass out of herself. Instead, she pulled out her phone and made a call. Smiling to herself when the familiar voice picked up, she started her car. “Al!  Hey gorgeous, what’re you doing tonight?”

[jchb32273]

Fictober Day 16 - This is gonna be so much fun!

Rating: T

Fandoms: Dragon Age (Video Games), Dragon Age - All Media Types

Relationship: Alistair/Cullen Rutherford

Characters: Alistair (Dragon Age), Cullen Rutherford

Additional Tags: Fictober, Short One Shot, Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - College/University, Male Friendship, Road Trips, Camping, Mild Language, Epilogue

Published:2018-10-16 Words:3664 Chapters:1/1

Find story here on AO3

Camping Chaos

“I can’t believe you dragged me into this,” Cullen grumbled, as Alistair’s sports car roared down the Imperial Highway. “I have four term papers due in three weeks. I should be at the university library right now, doing my research!”

“Oh, come on Curly!” Cullen scowled at Alistair. He hated that nickname. Alistair, all smiles, continued on unawares. “This is gonna to be so much fun! The two of us haven’t done anything together for such a long time. We may live together in the same apartment, but it seems like we pass each other by in a blur most days. I'm focusing on my Business major and you’ve been cooped up in the science lab or library for weeks now! Time for some fresh air, buddy!”

“An eight-hour drive from Denerim to the boondocks of Lake Calenhad… all for a camping trip. You know I’m not a fan of the outdoors,” Cullen sighed. “And can you please turn down that blaring rock noise you insist on listening to? Frankly, it gives me a headache.”

Alistair obliged and turned the radio down. “I thought you science majors loved the outdoors. Collecting new samples and specimens? Surely there will be something for you to study out by the lake.”

“Alistair, I switched my major last year. I decided on Biochemistry rather than Environmental Sciences. It was more challenging for me. I’ll be spending most of my time in the lab… if I can get into the Master's program at our school. They only take six students a year. That is why I need top grades! That is why my term papers are so important!”

“Dude, you’re in the top ten. How much higher does your GPA need to be?”

“Very high. The competition is fierce. I need that scholarship to help cover the cost of the program.” Cullen ran a hand through his mussed hair. Having the top down in this sports car also annoyed him. But no matter how much he griped about it… “Money is tight for me. My part-time job pays next to nothing, you know.”

Alistair was silent for several minutes, then said, “I could talk to my father…”

“No! I’ve told you, I don’t want a handout!” Cullen sighed at the hurt look on Alistair’s face. He still wondered – even after all these years – how the heir to one of the richest families and owners of the largest business in Ferelden ended up becoming friends with a poor farm kid from Honnleath. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to be obligated to anyone. Especially not my best friend and his family.”

Alistair gave his friend a half-smile. “I understand, I do, buddy. Let’s just focus on de-stressing you for a few days!” he trailed off in silence and a moment later turned the radio back up as Tom Petty came on. “Love this song,” he said and then began to sing along to it. “Runnin’ down a dream…”

Cullen chuckled slightly. Alistair was right. He had been under a lot of stress lately, having deleted the last two versions of the paper he had been trying to write for a week already. Alistair knew fun. Maybe a few days off at the Theirins hunting lodge would help him refocus. “So what all do you have planned for us then?” he asked.

“Oh?” Alistair turned the radio down again. “Finally decided to come around, buddy? That’s great! Just two dudes roughing it! I packed us some fishing rods so we can catch our own dinner! There are some canoes, so we can paddle around the lake, and go swimming too! I did also pack some beers in the cooler. We’ll have a blast!”

“Did you pack the essentials, besides beer? I mean, you do have some backup food, should we fail to catch any fish, yes?”

“Oh, of course!” Alistair grinned. “I packed marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers for us to make s’mores. Pretty sure I also grabbed a few bags of chips too.”

Cullen stared at his friend. “That’s it? Chips, sweets, and beer?” he put a hand to his head. “I hope you know how to fish then. I’ve never fished once in my life…”

“How hard can it be? Put a worm on the hook and drop the line in the water! We’ll figure it out!” Alistair’s enthusiasm just couldn’t be dampened. “I’m sure we’ll also find some berries in the woods too!”

“Maker preserve me…” Cullen mumbled. “I hope you didn’t forget the sunscreen. I’ll burn if I stay in the sun too long.”

“Is that why you’re wearing a long-sleeve shirt and pants in this weather? Don’t worry, it’s packed,” Alistair said. At least, I think I packed it… “You needn’t worry, pal. Kinloch College isn’t too far off from the cabin, so if we run into any trouble – which we won’t – help will be available. Just trust me, okay?”

“Did you say Kinloch College? Isn’t that the magic college?”

“Yep.”

“Uh-huh,” Cullen said softly.

“Did I also mention it’s an all-girls school too?” Alistair winked and nudged his friend. “Maybe we'll meet some cute girls while out there!”

“All-girls?” Cullen’s eyebrows raised. “Since when?”

“About two years ago, I think.”

“They don’t teach magic to men anymore?”

“Of course they do! They just moved that to a school up in the Free Marches.”

“Why the segregation?”

Alistair shrugged. “I don’t know. Never asked.”

A few more moments passed in silence with only the radio and the hum of the tires on the highway providing any noise. “How much further to this cabin then?” Cullen finally asked.

“I figure we’ll get there in about an hour.”

“That’s good.” Just then, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Call Me the Breeze’ came on the radio. “Well, this song I like at least,” Cullen smiled and hummed along.

Alistair grinned again and sang along with his friend.

“Well now, they call me the breeze

I keep blowin' down the road

Well now, they call me the breeze

I keep blowin' down the road

I ain't got me nobody

I don't carry me no load

Ooh, Mr. Breeze…”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“We’re here!”Alistair called out cheerily.

Cullen had dozed off during the last half hour of the drive and Alistair’s cheery voice woke him up. He opened his eyes, rubbed them, and grabbed his glasses off the dashboard to put them on. He was eager to see the nice hunting lodge he knew Alistair’s father owned.

What he saw instead made him do a double-take.

Cullen was stunned that the ramshackle cabin even still stood.

“This is where we are staying?”

“Yep!”

“This isn’t… a joke. Is it?” Just whose cabin was this? Surely this can’t belong to the Theirins!

“No.” Alistair looked momentarily confused. “No joke.” Then he smiled. “Oh, you thought we were going to stay at my dad’s hunting lodge? Naw, that’s in the Frostbacks. This old cabin belongs to my Uncle Teagan. Before he made his fortune he lived the single bachelor’s life out here. Roughing it! Just like we will!”

“But Teagan isn’t really your uncle, right?”

“I know. He’s actually my half-brother Cailan’s uncle. But I’ve always called him that too, so…” Alistair shrugged and unlocked the trunk of the car. “Anyways, let’s get unpacked! I want to get out on that lake and catch some fish for dinner!” He grabbed the cooler out of the trunk and placed it on the ground near the car. He then pulled out two brown paper bags with the other food and put them next to the cooler. Then he headed to the door of the so-called cabin and unlocked the front door.

Cullen sighed. No electricity, meaning he wouldn’t be able to charge his laptop. He’d hoped to maybe get a little work done even while “roughing it”. He knew it would be rude (and not very prudent) to try and charge it off of the car battery. No lights also meant the few books he’d packed to read could only be read by daylight and he knew Alistair wouldn’t let him sequester himself during the day to read! Off in the distance, he saw an even smaller leaning building with a distinctive crescent moon in the wooden door… Oh Maker, no! An outhouse?!

No running water? He never considered himself a vain man, but still took immaculate care of himself with a nightly shower and grooming routine. Now all of that was left by the wayside. What in Thedas have I been roped into?

Alistair came back to the car to grab his duffel bag. “Why are you still just standing there! Come on and grab your stuff! Daylight’s wasting!”

Cullen groaned. I suppose it’s too late to back out now. I’m kind of stuck here… and I don’t want to ruin this for my best friend. I might as well see if there is anything that can be salvaged out of this excursion! He grabbed his own bag and slowly headed over to the cabin.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, once inside the cabin, Cullen’s hopes diminished further. Dust was caked everywhere and there were thick cobwebs in every corner of the cabin.

Alistair walked up and thumped him on the back. “Isn’t it great?!”

“Ah, not to dampen your enthusiasm… but when was this place last cleaned?”

Alistair looked around. “Yeah, I suppose it does need a good sweeping. Teagan hasn’t stayed here in years.”

Sweeping? More like scouring. Cullen ran a finger along the sole table in the room. It came back black with dirt. He frowned. “We should get that done first.”

“What about the fishing? Shouldn’t we try and catch something?”

“Look, I’m all for that, as I am hungry,” Cullen said with a slight smirk. “But I really think we need to get this place somewhat… habitable?” He looked around the small one bedroom cabin. “Any idea if your uncle left any cleaning supplies?”

“There’s a shed in the back,” Alistair replied. “Maybe there will be some brooms and stuff there?”

“I’ll go look.” Cullen left the cabin and walked around it to the back. There was a shed there, but it was padlocked. Cullen examined it closely. Rusty. Perhaps I can break it off? He spied an axe sticking out of a nearby stump. He picked up the axe and hefted it, testing its weight. Then he walked back over to the shed. Lining himself up properly, he brought the axe up and swung it down hard. The rusty lock shattered and the door to the shed swung open. He grinned… but only for a moment. A distinctive black and white furred critter ambled out of the shed. It hissed at the intrusion the tall human had caused to its home, turned, and started raising its fluffy tail.

Cullen gulped and quickly dropped the axe. He turned and hightailed it back to the cabin as quickly as he could.

He burst in the door and then slammed it shut, startling Alistair and several spiders. Cullen then peered out the side window. He could see the skunk was wandering around, then it disappeared behind the cabin again. He heaved a sigh.

“What,” Alistair blinked at his friend, “in Thedas just happened? You look like you’ve seen an abomination.”

“Worse.” Cullen sniffed his clothes. Thank the Maker! No stench. “Skunk.”

Alistair burst out laughing.

“It’s not funny,” Cullen growled. “I’m just lucky it didn’t spray me.”

“Well, it’s a little funny.” Alistair smiled, even as Cullen still frowned. “Point is, you didn’t get hit. Let’s just get our trunks on and go for a little swim. Now that we’re here, making noise, and whatnot, it’ll probably decide to move on. We can check the shed later for supplies. Okay?”

“I suppose you have a point there,” Cullen said and nodded. “Fine, I guess a short swim won’t hurt for now.” He nodded towards the sole bedroom. “Can I go in there to change?”

“Sure, pal. I’ll just change out here.” Alistair unzipped his duffel and pulled out his swim trunks. Cullen did the same and then went into the bedroom.

The bedroom was no better than the rest of the cabin. One lone bed sat in the middle of the room. The frame was rusty and the mattress had definitely seen better days; dust covering it in a thick layer and springs poking out in a few places. Cullen rolled his eyes. Where in the void does he think we’re going to sleep, Cullen wondered. I think my weight alone would cause this bed to collapse!

He pulled off his shirt, jeans, and boxer briefs. Then he slipped on his swimwear. He then folded his clothes neatly and brought them back out of the room. He placed them back in his bag, then zipped it shut. Facing Alistair he then asked, “Sunscreen?”

Alistair looked at Cullen sheepishly. “I’m sorry, I guess I did forget it. But we can still swim without it, right? Wouldn’t it have just washed off in the water?”

Cullen sighed for what must’ve been the umpteenth time. “Fine, I suppose. I just won’t stay out as long.”

“I really am sorry, pal. I know you had everything lined up on our apartment table to pack…”

“I said it’s fine.” Cullen put an arm on Alistair to reassure him. “Let’s just go out and have a little fun. The sun will be setting soon and then the lake will be too cold.”

“All right.”

They left the cabin and carefully shut the door. At the rickety dock they both slipped off their shoes and socks, then they jumped into the water. Cullen swam out a ways then came up for air. He shook the water out of his hair and then looked for Alistair. His friend was nowhere nearby.

“Alistair?” Cullen called out.

Just then, something grabbed Cullen’s legs and yanked him underwater!

Panicking and kicking, he quickly managed to get back to the surface of the water… to see Alistair floating nearby and laughing.

“The look on your face was priceless!” Alistair guffawed.

“You. Are. Going. To. Pay. For. That!” Cullen growled but grinned at his friend at the same time. He then tackled Alistair and the two of them floundered in the water, splashing and dunking each other.

About fifteen minutes later, Cullen said, “I think we need to get out now, dry off, and see if we can get into that shed to get the cabin cleaned up a bit. Yes?”

Alistair was floating on his back in the water nearby. “Sure, I guess so. Race you back?”

“Sure.”

“Ready? Onetwothree GO!” Alistair called out and quickly launched himself ahead.

“Oy! Cheater!” Cullen called out. Then he swam as quickly as he could. He ended up tagging the dock at the same time as his friend, despite Alistair’s head start. Laughing, the both clambered out of the water, grabbed their towels and dried off. Then Cullen slipped his shoes back on.

“Let me go grab the chips and some beers out of the… cooler.” Alistair started but trailed off.

“What?” Cullen laughed at first, then saw what made Alistair pause.

A large black bear had wandered into the clearing by the cabin. It stood between the men and the cabin. Just then another bear came. It walked over to where the cooler sat.

Bear number one turned and faced the two men. It stood up on its hind legs and roared.

“Shit!” Cullen whispered. “No sudden moves, Alistair!”

But Alistair was already running to the nearest tree. He launched himself off the ground with a mighty jump and grabbed the branch above him. He just managed to pull himself up and out of harm's way just as the bear reached the tree.

Cullen breathed a sigh of relief, but only for a moment. Now the bear turned to face him. He gulped, quickly glanced around, found another tree and dashed for it. He too, just made it to safety as the bear tried to swipe at him.

The bear growled and then left. It joined its companion and while bear two nosed at the cooler, bear one tore into the paper bags that held what little food Alistair had packed.

It didn’t take them long to devour or destroy the foodstuffs. Then bear number two got the cooler opened and while it ate some of the ice, it couldn’t do anything about the strange glass bottles it had dug out of the hard box. It swatted them around, busting them open and leaving shards of broken glass on the ground near the cooler. Then it sniffed the contents of the spilled liquid. Not liking what it smelled, it ambled off. Bear one also left shortly thereafter.

Cullen and Alistair let another ten minutes or so pass before they both climbed out of the trees.

“Well, this is just fucking terrific!” Cullen snarled. “Why didn’t you put the cooler and the food in the cabin, Alistair!”

“Hey! How was I supposed to predict bears were going to show up!” Alistair shouted back. “I’m not psychic!”

“And I suppose that if I go check the car, I'll find that you probably also forgot to pack the fishing poles too, huh?” Cullen bent down and picked up some of the broken glass. “Let’s face it, this whole stupid trip was a waste of my time! I should have just stayed in Denerim and worked on my papers!”

“Is that how you really feel?” Alistair asked quietly. “Am I a waste of your time too now, Cullen?”

“Yes!” Cullen shouted before he realized what he had responded to. The pained look on Alistair’s face quickly made him realize what an ass he was being. His anger quickly cooled. “I mean… no! No, you are not a waste of my time. Maker’s Breath, Alistair. I… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

Alistair was silent for a long time. Then he said, “Maybe we… should go back. To Denerim. I,” he swallowed painfully. “I think it’s clear, we are just two different people now. I’ll…” He hesitated again. “I’ll move out when we get back.”

Cullen ran up to where his friend was. “Alistair, no. Please. Don’t do this. I… I wouldn’t be who I am today without your friendship and support over the years. I am sorry I said what I did. I-I have just been under an enormous amount of stress. You planned this whole thing to try and help me relax for Maker’s sake! And you know what?”

Alistair looked up at Cullen. “What?”

“Despite the ramshackle cabin, the outhouse, the filth, the skunk, and the bears, I was actually starting to relax and have some fun.” He gave a lopsided smile at his friend. “I have you to thank for that!”

“Really?” Alistair glanced at his friend, hope springing back to his eyes. “What about all of your complaints?”

Cullen snorted. “You should know well enough by now that is just how I’ve always been!”

Alistair smiled slightly. “Well, I suppose that is true.”

“You are a great guy and a fun-loving friend,” Cullen grinned. “I’ve always liked that about you.”

“And you’ve always been serious enough for the both of us!”

“Now that is an understatement!” Cullen laughed.

“So… Now what?” Alistair smiled and shrugged. “Guess our camping excursion is a bust.”

“I say we go back into that cabin, get dressed, then throw our bags back into your car and drive to the nearest town. We get a hotel, then go out and have some fun! Eat, drink, and have a blast! I don’t need to be back in Denerim for at least four days.”

“You know,” Alistair grinned wide. “I like the sound of that! Let’s go!”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After they finished getting dressed, they left the rickety cabin. They stowed their duffels in the trunk of the car. While Cullen examined to see if the cooler could at least be salvaged, Alistair walked back over to the cabin in the waning light of day.

“Frankly, I don’t know what I was thinking when I thought we could stay here. I say good riddance!” He kicked one of the posts that supported the front porch, then turned and started walking away.

All of a sudden both men heard a loud creak. They looked up.

There was a long groan.

And then a deafening snap as the post broke in two. With that, the cabin completely lost all structural support and it collapsed in on itself.

Both Alistair and Cullen stared in shock as the dust settled around the remains of the cabin. Then they both burst out laughing.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After their fun mini vacation, Cullen and Alistair headed back to Denerim. Cullen finished all his papers with plenty of time to spare.

He did get into the Master’s Program with a full scholarship. Alistair ended up working for his father; the two of them still sharing an apartment for a time.

Eventually, Alistair met and married a young woman. He moved out of the apartment.

Cullen was lonely living by himself but threw himself into his studies. Alistair and his wife visited when they could.

After graduating with full honors, Cullen decided to take a year off before pursuing his doctorate.

He, Alistair, and Alistair’s wife all headed back to the spot on Lake Calenhad where the cabin had once stood. The three of them decided to rebuild it.

During that year, Alistair’s wife introduced Cullen to her cousin. They hit it off immediately.

That following year, there was much to celebrate.

There was a marriage.

There was a new baby.

And as both happy young couples stood together on the shore of Lake Calenhad to admire their brand new two-story vacation cabin, Cullen and Alistair both glanced at each other, reminiscing about how it had all begun… by a botched camping trip!